Legal Question in Criminal Law in Pennsylvania

Legality of video taping people in public

I'm wondering if it's 100% legal in PA to video tape people in public places without their knowledge. Moreover, is it legal to video tape someone who is in public while you are not in public rather inside your own home.

Specificaly, there is a public park right across the street in front of our house and I was wondering if it would be legal to video tape people, using a zoom lens, who are in the park from inside my home.

Thank you.


Asked on 6/23/05, 9:15 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Peter Dolinger Law Office of Peter M. Dolinger

Re: Legality of video taping people in public

Unfortunately there is no easy answer to your question. People strolling around a park do not expect their actions to be completely private, so if you were taking pictures of the park and the people who happened to be there, they would not have a good case to stop you. But if you zoomed in on individuals and then used the film for your profit or advantage, they might have a case against you for invasion of privacy.

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Answered on 6/25/05, 5:46 am


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