Privacy, CCTV and Recording Laws Course (US) 2026

1. Question 1 of 25

   Under the federal Wiretap Act (18 U.S.C. 2511), what is generally a crime?

   • AWriting a visitor's name in a sign-in log
   • BIntentionally intercepting a wire, oral or electronic communication
   • CWatching live camera footage of a parking lot
   • DTaking photos of a building and its entrances from a public sidewalk
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Intentionally intercepting a wire, oral or electronic communication

   18 U.S.C. 2511(1)(a) makes it a crime to intentionally intercept, or try to intercept, a wire, oral or electronic communication unless an exception applies.

2. Question 2 of 25

   Under federal law, when may a private person record a conversation?

   • AWhen they are a party to it, or one party agreed in advance
   • BOnly when every person in the conversation has agreed to it
   • CNever, unless the person is a police officer
   • DOnly with a warrant signed by a federal judge
   Show answer

   Answer: A. When they are a party to it, or one party agreed in advance

   The one-party consent exception in 18 U.S.C. 2511(2)(d) lets a private person record if they are a party to the conversation or one party gave prior consent.

3. Question 3 of 25

   When does the federal one-party consent exception NOT protect a person who records?

   • AWhen the call lasts longer than 10 minutes
   • BWhen the other person speaks a different language than you do
   • CWhen the recording is made on a cell phone
   • DWhen the recording is made to commit a crime or wrongful act
   Show answer

   Answer: D. When the recording is made to commit a crime or wrongful act

   Section 2511(2)(d) does not apply if the communication is intercepted to commit a criminal or tortious act.

4. Question 4 of 25

   What is the maximum prison term for a basic violation of 18 U.S.C. 2511?

   • A5 years
   • B6 months
   • C30 days
   • D1 year
   Show answer

   Answer: A. 5 years

   Under 18 U.S.C. 2511(4)(a), a violation can be punished by a fine, up to five years in prison, or both.

5. Question 5 of 25

   Under the federal definition, when is an "oral communication" protected?

   • AWhen the speaker expects privacy and the situation justifies it
   • BOnly when it takes place inside a person's own home or apartment
   • CWhenever it is spoken out loud in any place at all
   • DOnly when it is in writing or sent by email
   Show answer

   Answer: A. When the speaker expects privacy and the situation justifies it

   18 U.S.C. 2510(2) protects spoken words when the speaker expects they are not being intercepted, under circumstances that justify that expectation.

6. Question 6 of 25

   Under California Penal Code 632, whose consent is needed to record a confidential communication?

   • AOnly the person who is recording
   • BAll parties to the communication
   • CA supervisor at the security company
   • DThe property owner where it happens
   Show answer

   Answer: B. All parties to the communication

   California Penal Code 632 makes it an offense to record a confidential communication without the consent of all parties.

7. Question 7 of 25

   Under California Penal Code 632, which conversation is NOT a "confidential communication"?

   • AA private talk in a closed office
   • BA phone call with a doctor
   • COne at a public gathering
   • DA quiet talk in a parked car
   Show answer

   Answer: C. One at a public gathering

   Section 632(c) excludes communications at a public gathering, or where the parties may reasonably expect to be overheard or recorded.

8. Question 8 of 25

   In Florida, when is it lawful to intercept a conversation under Statutes 934.03(2)(d)?

   • AWhen it happens on private business property
   • BWhen one party is a security officer
   • CWhen the recording is kept for 30 days or less
   • DWhen all parties have given prior consent
   Show answer

   Answer: D. When all parties have given prior consent

   Florida Statutes 934.03(2)(d) allows interception when all of the parties to the communication have given prior consent.

9. Question 9 of 25

   In Florida, what level of crime is a violation of the main ban in Statutes 934.03(1)?

   • AA felony of the third degree
   • BA noncriminal traffic violation
   • CA civil infraction with a fine
   • DA misdemeanor of the second degree
   Show answer

   Answer: A. A felony of the third degree

   Florida Statutes 934.03(4)(a) says a person who violates subsection (1) is guilty of a felony of the third degree.

10. Question 10 of 25

    A Washington site wants officers to record conversations with body cameras. Under RCW 9.73.030, what counts as consent?

    • AA note in the officer's report written after the shift
    • BA sign in the back office that only staff members can see
    • CA clear announcement to everyone, which is also recorded
    • DNothing, because officers never need consent there
    Show answer

    Answer: C. A clear announcement to everyone, which is also recorded

    RCW 9.73.030(3) treats consent as obtained when all parties are told in a reasonably effective way that recording is happening, and the announcement is also recorded.

11. Question 11 of 25

    Your site wants to add microphones to its security cameras. Why should this be approved first?

    • ABecause sound files are always too big to store
    • BBecause microphones make the video blurry
    • CBecause recording sound can bring in wiretap laws
    • DBecause cameras with sound cannot be watched live
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Because recording sound can bring in wiretap laws

    Wiretap and eavesdropping laws cover the content of conversations, so adding audio to cameras can make those laws apply.

12. Question 12 of 25

    A manager in Connecticut wants a camera inside the staff locker room to stop thefts. What does section 31-48b say?

    • AIt is not allowed; such areas are off limits
    • BIt is allowed if only managers watch the video
    • CIt is allowed if the camera is hidden well
    • DIt is allowed if the camera records video only
    Show answer

    Answer: A. It is not allowed; such areas are off limits

    Connecticut section 31-48b bars employers from operating electronic surveillance in areas for employees' health or comfort or for safeguarding their possessions, such as restrooms, locker rooms and lounges.

13. Question 13 of 25

    What does the federal video voyeurism law (18 U.S.C. 1801) make a crime in places under special federal jurisdiction?

    • AShowing camera footage to the police after an incident
    • BCapturing images of a person's private areas without consent
    • CSaving video from a parking lot for more than seven days total
    • DFilming any person in a public place without a permit
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Capturing images of a person's private areas without consent

    18 U.S.C. 1801(a) covers capturing an image of a person's private area without consent where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy, in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States.

14. Question 14 of 25

    Under New York Civil Rights Law 52-c, what must an employer do before monitoring employee phone, email or internet use?

    • AGive written notice on hiring and post it
    • BTell employees only if they ask about it
    • CGet a court order for each employee monitored
    • DPay employees extra for being monitored
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Give written notice on hiring and post it

    Section 52-c requires prior written notice on hiring, acknowledged by the employee, and a notice posted where employees can easily see it.

15. Question 15 of 25

    Under Connecticut section 31-48d, what counts as prior written notice of electronic monitoring?

    • AA note kept in the security office files
    • BA spoken warning given at the end of each shift
    • CPosting a notice in a place employees can see
    • DAn email sent after the monitoring has ended
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Posting a notice in a place employees can see

    Section 31-48d says posting the notice in a conspicuous place readily available to employees counts as prior written notice.

16. Question 16 of 25

    Which of these is a biometric identifier under Illinois' Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA)?

    • AA person's height and eye color
    • BA written signature on a visitor log
    • CAn ordinary photograph of a visitor
    • DA scan of a person's face geometry
    Show answer

    Answer: D. A scan of a person's face geometry

    BIPA lists retina or iris scans, fingerprints, voiceprints and scans of hand or face geometry. It excludes signatures, photographs and physical descriptions.

17. Question 17 of 25

    Under BIPA, what must a private company get before collecting a person's fingerprint?

    • AA verbal OK from the shift supervisor
    • BA written release from the person
    • CPermission from the local police
    • DNothing, if it is for security
    Show answer

    Answer: B. A written release from the person

    BIPA section 15(b) requires written notice, the purpose and length of storage, and a written release signed by the person.

18. Question 18 of 25

    Under BIPA, when must biometric data generally be destroyed?

    • ANever, as long as it is kept for security reasons
    • BOnly when the person asks for it in writing by certified mail
    • CAfter 10 years, no matter why it was collected
    • DWhen the purpose is met or 3 years after last contact
    Show answer

    Answer: D. When the purpose is met or 3 years after last contact

    BIPA section 15(a) requires destruction when the purpose is met or within 3 years of the person's last interaction, whichever comes first.

19. Question 19 of 25

    Under BIPA, how much can a person recover for each negligent violation?

    • A$100 or actual damages
    • B$1,000 or actual damages
    • C$10,000 or actual damages
    • D$500 or actual damages
    Show answer

    Answer: B. $1,000 or actual damages

    BIPA section 20 allows $1,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater, for a negligent violation, and $5,000 for an intentional or reckless one.

20. Question 20 of 25

    What does the Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) protect?

    • AVideo recorded by private dash cameras in company cars
    • BParking permits issued by private lots
    • CSpeeding tickets shown on public court sites
    • DPersonal information in state motor vehicle records
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Personal information in state motor vehicle records

    The DPPA (18 U.S.C. 2721) limits release of personal information from state motor vehicle records to permitted uses.

21. Question 21 of 25

    An officer asks a friend at the DMV to look up who owns a car parked on site. Under the DPPA, what is true?

    • AIt is fine, as long as the friend does it after hours
    • BGetting the data for a use the act does not allow is unlawful
    • CIt is fine, because the car is on private property
    • DIt is fine, as long as the officer only shares it with the client
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Getting the data for a use the act does not allow is unlawful

    18 U.S.C. 2722(a) makes it unlawful to knowingly obtain or disclose personal information from a motor vehicle record for a use not permitted by 2721(b).

22. Question 22 of 25

    Which FTC principle means "keep only what you need for your business"?

    • APlan ahead
    • BLock it
    • CTake stock
    • DScale down
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Scale down

    The FTC's "Scale down" principle says to keep only the personal information you need for your business.

23. Question 23 of 25

    According to the FTC, who should be able to see personal information in records?

    • AOnly the company owner and no one else
    • BAny person who asks politely in writing
    • CAnyone who works at the same site
    • DOnly employees with a need to know
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Only employees with a need to know

    The FTC advises limiting access to personal information to employees with a need to know.

24. Question 24 of 25

    Old visitor logs with names and phone numbers are no longer needed. What is the best way to get rid of them?

    • ALeave them in a box in the lobby
    • BShred them so they cannot be read
    • CPut them in the regular trash bin
    • DTake them home to throw out later
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Shred them so they cannot be read

    The FTC's "Pitch it" principle says to dispose of records so they cannot be read or reconstructed, for example by shredding.

25. Question 25 of 25

    You lose a notebook with residents' names and phone numbers. What should you do first?

    • AWrite a new notebook and say nothing
    • BReport it to your supervisor right away
    • CWait a week to see if it turns up somewhere
    • DCall each resident yourself from home
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Report it to your supervisor right away

    Fast reporting lets the company secure its systems, call police if needed and meet state breach notification laws, which all states have.

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