questions & answers

Question: I rent a room from my roommate, who is not the owner, but is it legal or allowed for him to set up a camera..video & audio..to record while he's gone at night? It's in a common room, not pointing at my room, but he did not ask me about it nor did he tell me about it and maybe explain that he was worried about blah blah. Just one day out of the blue now there's a camera. Also is it legal for him to do that using the Internet that I pay for at this apartment?

Answer: Under the Arizona Criminal Code (A.R.S. Title 13), it is unlawful to record other people without their permission when they are engaged in activities – usually in the bedroom or in the bathroom – by which their intimate privacy might be compromised. Even if your roommate is not in violation of this statute, he surely has an obligation to a person who is paying rent to use and enjoy the common areas of the dwelling to give you advance notice of his intention to video- and audio-tape a space that you both share – and to actually ask for and receive your permission in order to do so. This may be grounds to get out of your sublease if you would like to – you may want to speak to an attorney.