What is nanny up to? If this is a question you find yourself asking, then perhaps it's high time you purchase a nanny camera. Nanny cameras are wireless security cameras that let parents keep tabs on their children and the person looking after them. Because nanny cameras are wireless security cameras, they can be easily stashed in one corner of the room without catching the nanny's attention. In fact, many nanny cameras are designed to look like inconspicuous objects, such as wall clocks, teddy bears, cars, and plants.
Advantages of Watching the Nanny
Nanny cameras let you keep close tabs on how your nanny is taking care of your children. Not only that, this is information you can receive in real time. Security cameras, such as the nanny cam, come with remote computer imaging. They can send video images to computers or mobile phones. So, while at work, you may take a glance at what nanny is cooking or how she is helping the kids with homework.
Disadvantages of Spying on Nanny
Your use of wireless security cameras can be easily turned against you. Nanny cameras transmit from the camera to a base, and the signals it sends out can be easily intercepted. Unless you are using really sophisticated wireless security cameras or are utilizing some form of signal scrambling at the same time, signals from your nanny cams can be easily picked up from up to a quarter-mile away, using very basic equipment.
This is one disadvantage of the nanny camera. If you use it, you could be opening your home to burglars. What is even more disturbing is that no legislation protects you from this type of interception. Anyone with a $200 equipment and the intent to spy could spy on you. Sadly, current wiretapping laws only protect homeowners from audio wiretapping.
Another disadvantage of using nanny cameras is disputes over their legality.
Is it Legal to Spy on Nanny?
Is it legal to spy on nanny? More importantly, can evidence collected by wireless security cameras be used in court? These questions are always asked in debates over the use of nanny cameras.
At present, it is legal in every state to make a video-recording of anything that is happening inside your home. This video recording can be carried out at any time, in any area of your house, without the need to inform anyone. No federal laws regulate the use of wireless security cameras in the home, so long as these are installed by the homeowners. Note,though, that you must be careful not to record images any further than your front yard as this may be construed as invasion of your neighbors' privacy. If your wireless security cameras come with "video only" feature, then you need not worry about any legality issues.
Audio recordings, however, are a different story. If your wireless security cameras pick up sound quite clearly, be sure to ask your service provider about state laws concerning their use. Some states do not have special laws covering the recording of voice materials. On the other hand, in states such as California, Connecticut, Oregon, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Delaware, Florida, and Hawaii, it is illegal to record people's voices without their permission. In fact, if you pick up evidence this way, not only will it be inadmissible in court, it could send you to jail.
In the final analysis, the decision to install nanny cameras is one you should not make lightly. Think long and hard before you consider using wireless security cameras.
