It is generally legal to install a video camera in your home to monitor a babysitter or nanny, and does not require the consent of the babysitter or nanny. But it is generally illegal to place such a camera in private places such as bathrooms or a live-in nanny’s bedroom. And in some states that require both parties to consent to the recording of a conversation, it is illegal to place a camera or other device in your home that records audio without the consent (preferably in writing) of your babysitter or nanny. These states that require two-way consent to record conversations (your consent and the babysitter or nanny’s consent) include California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
In Texas, it is generally legal to install video cameras in your own home for the purposes of monitoring a babysitter or nanny. This is often done to ensure the safety and proper care of children. Texas is a one-party consent state when it comes to recording conversations, which means that only one person involved in the conversation needs to consent to the recording. Therefore, it is not necessary to obtain the consent of the babysitter or nanny for video recordings that do not capture audio. However, it is illegal to place cameras in areas where individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as bathrooms or a live-in nanny's bedroom. If the camera also records audio, since you are a party to the conversation, your consent alone would typically suffice under Texas law. Nevertheless, it is always advisable to notify any in-home employees of the presence of cameras to avoid any legal complications related to privacy expectations.
