Does using the Ring doorbell in Maryland violate any wiretapping laws?
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Does using the Ring doorbell in Maryland violate any wiretapping laws?
The ring doorbell from ring.com automatically records anyone who
approaches the front door of the house, including audio. It also allows a
conversation with anyone who rings the doorbell which is recorded in the
cloud with the video. This would be so that we could tell the delivery
person to leave the package or drop it off with a neighbor.
I was reading some other articles and became worried that the audio
portion of the recording might be illegal, but I am not certain.
Is this legal? Is there any way to protect myself, say by posting one of
those ‘you are being recorded’ signs somewhere?
Asked on March 29, 2017 under Personal Injury, Maryland
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
Such an audio recording would be illegal. This is true regardless of whether you live in a "1 party" or "all party" consent state, since the person being recorded will have not given their permission for to have their voice audio recorded.
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
Recording audio would be illegal--it is legally the same as illegal wiretapping and could subject you to criminal liability (that is, being jailed). Your state is a "two-party consent" state, which really should be called an "all-party consent" state. That is, recording any conversation in your state is illegal unless *every* person in the conversation consents or agrees to be recorded. Therefore, recording someone without their consent is against the law.
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