Arlo is Illegal in Massachusetts - Disable Sound Recording

[Lstudio]

I think it’s a stupid law, but it’s actually illegal in Massachusetts for home security cameras to record sound as it falls under wiretapping regulations. Netgear should inform customers of this and in order to continue selling Arlos in Massachusetts, should offer a means for customers to either delete and/or disable sound recordings.

[brh]

 @Lstudio

I don't know about Massachusetts, but in most places, if a person is commiting a burglary or home invasion, that law becomes irrelevent. Usually, it is to protect visitors to your home, especially in bedrooms.

Brian

[Lstudio]

https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleI/Chapter272/Section99

[JamesC]

Lstudio,

This can be done by disabling the microphone on your camera.

Log in to your Arlo account and navigate to Settings > My Devices > select your camera > Audio settings > toggle Microphone off.

JamesC

[Lstudio]

This is not a good nor proper solution. I still want to be able to hear and communicate with th mic, but users should be able to disable only the recording of sounds aspect to them.

[brh]

@Lstudio

Double check the interpretation of the laws in your state. Ring, Skybell and other doorbell/camera/speaker units are all selling in your state.

Secondly, you can use the mic in Live view when no recording is goiung on, (unless you manually start recording). I believe you can set up rules to turn the mic on and off in the armed state, but still talk to the person in live view. Try it.

Brian

[Ironhorse]

Whats this about it being illegal in Massachusetts to have sound on my Arlo cameras!?Not going to happen. The audio only works one way on both my cameras with no outgoing voice only sound incoming. I refuse to obey this ludicrous law and want this corrected as its one of the main reasons i bought them in the first place..Any answers?

[pc2k17]

@Ironhorse

I guarantee Arlo didn't chnage anything on the cameras to comply with some ridiculous law, nor should they. Arlo is under no obligation to change their product to sell it in a particular location. The person buying it has the obligation and/or choice to follow the foolish law or not. Not to mention, there is no way Arlo is going to make a camera just for one state that are different from the rest of the country.

That said....... are you using an iPhone with iOS 11.3? If so, there is a know issue with the microphone on iOS 11.3, so you would have no outgoing voice, you can only hear. Arlo is aware and is working on coming up with a fix.

[mocodi]

So you'd like to disable audio in event-triggered recordings, but still be able to use it like an intercom in live view. The setting JamesC pointed you to is all-or-nothing.

You raise a good point about the law. We have similar state-level laws here in Australia which can allow for video surveillance but effectively prohibit or place more limitations on 'listening devices', and it may be an offence to have an Arlo record, say, a conversation between two visitors waiting at one's front door. But these laws tend to leave more open to interpretation than, say, traffic laws.

[iseeyou2018]

It's not illegal.

Look up the laws for "Reasonable expectation of privacy", and then you will understand why not only your local Walmart has tons of cams, but also Logan and your local streets.

Click

[TonyRrrrrr]

Does intent come into play? If 2 people are having a conversation in my driveway and they get recorded, and it was not my intent to record their conversation, is it still illegal?

[harley239]

There is no expectation of privacy standing in someones yard. These statues are refering to Police Investigations and wire tapping. That's why the first 3 paragraphs are talking about organized crime. "Secret use of such devices" are refering to equipment used in wire tapping by law enforcement which requires a judges signature. A camera installed on your house pointing at someone is not a secret. If you are worried, post a sign saying "You are under audio and video surveillance" and then it is no secret and the statue would not apply.