An increased demand for remote monitoring and secondary verification has led to a higher integration of audio in security solutions across the industry. The widespread adoption of audio has raised many questions about the legality of recording. Many security directors refrain from using audio due to a lack of knowledge on monitoring laws.
The key to understanding policies on monitoring is to understand the regulations on privacy. The United States Code defines private communication as that which is “uttered by a person exhibiting an expectation that such communication is not subject to interception under circumstances justifying such expectation” (United States Code, Title 18, Section 2510, 2). In other words, monitoring is prohibited where privacy is promised.