Laws About Video Surveillance in Childcare Facilities

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Many daycare facilities are equipped with video surveillance so that parents can view their child from remote locations. Federal law regulates video surveillance in places of employment, and various state laws regulate video surveillance in daycare centers. Laws covering video surveillance in daycare facilities vary by state, but states have the same general provisions.

Privacy Laws

Private employers are not obliged to protect an individual's right to privacy, unless the state has ruled otherwise. Some states allow private employers to use video surveillance to monitor employees. In these states, daycare facilities may install cameras to monitor employees but they must advise employees of the cameras' presence and location before installation.

Purpose of Surveillance

Generally, video surveillance is acceptable if it's for the purpose of allowing parents to monitor children in the daycare center. It may not be used as a substitute for direct supervision of children. In other words, daycare employees may not rely on cameras to monitor children from another room or part of the facility. State laws regulating the ratio of child caregivers to children still apply.

Notice of Surveillance

If a childcare facility installs video surveillance cameras, all daycare employees, attendants and parents must be informed about the cameras' intended use and the specific location of each camera. Parents are invited to participate in the video surveillance, but the daycare center must maintain adequate internet security measures to protect against unauthorized access to the surveillance system. Measures might include changing passwords, taking filtering measures, reporting any unauthorized access to the system, and taking immediate corrective action in response to the system's abuse.

Allowable Spaces and Inspection

Video surveillance cameras may be installed only in common rooms and spaces, including hallways and play areas. Bathrooms and changing areas where staff would expect privacy may not be equipped with surveillance cameras of any kind. Both public and home-based daycare facilities must give inspectors or other state representatives access to all video surveillance equipment.