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Florida Voyeurism and Hidden Camera Laws: Digital Voyeurism Penalties (2026)

By Recording Law Editorial TeamPublished March 23, 2026Reviewed May 15, 202611 min read

Florida criminalizes secret recording of people in private locations under Fla. Stat. 810.145, the Digital Voyeurism statute. Offenders aged 19 and older commit a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Distributing voyeuristic recordings is a separate third-degree felony at any age.

Florida takes voyeurism and hidden camera offenses seriously, treating most violations as felonies rather than misdemeanors. Two separate statutes address these crimes: Florida Statute 810.145, which covers digital voyeurism involving cameras and recording devices, and Florida Statute 810.14, which addresses traditional voyeurism (secretly observing someone without necessarily using a device).

In 2024, the Florida Legislature significantly updated Section 810.145, renaming the offense from "video voyeurism" to "digital voyeurism," expanding the scope of prohibited conduct, and increasing penalties. These changes reflect the growing threat posed by small, easily concealed cameras, drones, and other modern imaging technology.

Florida's Digital Voyeurism Law (F.S. 810.145)

What the Statute Prohibits

Florida Statute 810.145 targets four categories of conduct:

1. Secret Recording in Private Locations

It is illegal to use an imaging device to secretly view, broadcast, or record a person at a place and time when the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy. This includes recording someone:

In a bathroom, shower, or restroom
In a bedroom or sleeping area
In a changing room, fitting room, or dressing room
In any enclosed space where a reasonable person would believe they can fully disrobe in privacy

2. Recording Under or Through Clothing

It is illegal to use an imaging device to view, broadcast, or record under or through the clothing of another person without that person's knowledge and consent. This targets "upskirting" and similar invasive practices regardless of whether the victim is in a public or private location.

3. Dissemination of Voyeuristic Images

A person who knows or has reason to believe that an image or recording was created through digital voyeurism commits a separate offense by intentionally disseminating, distributing, or transferring that image or recording to another person. The purpose element requires that the sharing be for amusement, entertainment, sexual arousal, gratification, or for the purpose of degrading, exploiting, or abusing another person.

4. Commercial Distribution

Selling voyeuristic images or recordings for consideration constitutes commercial digital voyeurism dissemination, which carries its own set of penalties.

Key Definitions

Imaging device: Any mechanical, digital, or electronic viewing device; still camera; camcorder; motion picture camera; or any other instrument, equipment, or format capable of recording, storing, or transmitting visual images of another person. This includes smartphones, smart glasses, drones with cameras, spy cameras, and any other visual recording technology.

Place and time when a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy: A place and time when a reasonable person would believe that they can fully disrobe in privacy. The statute specifically targets locations where people are vulnerable because they expect to be unobserved.

Broadcast: Electronically transmitting a visual image or visual recording with the intent that it be viewed by another person. This covers live-streaming voyeuristic recordings in addition to sharing saved files.

Criminal Penalties for Digital Voyeurism

The penalties under F.S. 810.145 are structured based on the offender's age, the specific offense, and prior conviction history:

Offense	Offender Age	Classification	Maximum Penalty
Digital voyeurism (recording)	Under 19	First-degree misdemeanor	1 year jail, $1,000 fine
Digital voyeurism (recording)	19 or older	Third-degree felony	5 years prison, $5,000 fine
Dissemination of voyeuristic images	Any age	Third-degree felony	5 years prison, $5,000 fine
Commercial dissemination (selling)	Any age	Third-degree felony	5 years prison, $5,000 fine
Any offense with prior conviction	Any age	Second-degree felony	15 years prison, $10,000 fine

The age distinction for the base recording offense (under 19 vs. 19 or older) reflects a legislative judgment that juvenile first-time offenders should face reduced penalties. However, disseminating or selling the recordings is a felony at any age.

Repeat Offender Enhancement

A person who has been previously convicted of, or had adjudication withheld on, any violation of Section 810.145 faces enhanced penalties. The offense is reclassified as a second-degree felony under Fla. Stat. 775.082, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and $10,000 in fines. This enhancement applies regardless of the specific subsection violated in the prior conviction.

Traditional Voyeurism (F.S. 810.14)

Florida a folded pair of smart glasses resting on a wooden desk beside a closed notebook, soft daylight

Florida Statute 810.14 addresses the act of secretly observing another person, even without a camera or recording device. A person commits voyeurism when they, with lewd, lascivious, or indecent intent:

Secretly observe another person in a dwelling, structure, or conveyance where that person has a reasonable expectation of privacy
Secretly observe another person's intimate areas (body parts or undergarments covered by clothing and intended to be protected from public view) in any location where the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy

Penalties for Traditional Voyeurism

Offense	Classification	Maximum Penalty
First violation	First-degree misdemeanor	1 year jail, $1,000 fine
Second violation	First-degree misdemeanor	1 year jail, $1,000 fine
Third or subsequent violation	Third-degree felony	5 years prison, $5,000 fine

The escalating penalty structure means that a person with two or more prior voyeurism convictions faces felony charges for any subsequent offense.

Hidden Cameras: Common Scenarios and Legal Analysis

Florida a dome security camera in the corner of an office ceiling, soft interior daylight

Hidden Cameras in Homes

Placing a hidden camera inside your own home is generally legal for security purposes, with important exceptions:

You cannot place hidden cameras in areas where guests or household members expect privacy (bathrooms, guest bedrooms)
If you share your home with a roommate or partner, placing a hidden camera in their private space may violate F.S. 810.145
Nanny cameras in common living areas are generally legal, though Florida's all-party consent rule under F.S. 934.03 applies if the camera records audio

Hidden Cameras in Rental Properties

Landlords are strictly prohibited from placing cameras inside rental units. Tenants have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their rented space. Hidden cameras in a tenant's apartment or house violate F.S. 810.145 and potentially constitute digital voyeurism.

Landlords may place visible security cameras in common areas of multi-unit buildings (lobbies, hallways, parking garages) with proper notice to tenants. See the full guide on landlord-tenant recording laws.

Hidden Cameras in Hotels and Vacation Rentals

Hotel guests and vacation rental occupants have a reasonable expectation of privacy inside their rooms. Placing hidden cameras in hotel rooms, Airbnb units, or other short-term rental accommodations is a clear violation of F.S. 810.145 and constitutes digital voyeurism.

Guests who discover hidden cameras should:

Document the camera's location with photos
Contact local law enforcement immediately
Contact the hotel management or rental platform
Preserve any evidence of the recording

Hidden Cameras in the Workplace

Employers cannot place hidden cameras in restrooms, locker rooms, changing areas, or any workplace location where employees have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Video surveillance in common work areas (production floors, lobbies, hallways) is permissible with proper employee notice.

Employees who secretly install hidden cameras in the workplace may face both criminal charges under F.S. 810.145 and disciplinary action. See the full guide on workplace recording laws.

Hidden Cameras in Public Restrooms and Changing Rooms

Recording in public restrooms, fitting rooms, changing areas, and similar spaces is among the most serious applications of F.S. 810.145. These locations are where people have the clearest expectation of privacy, and courts apply the statute aggressively to protect victims in these settings.

Drones and Voyeurism

Florida lapel microphone clipped to a charcoal blazer

The proliferation of camera-equipped drones has created new voyeurism risks. Using a drone to:

Peer into windows of private homes
Record people in fenced backyards
Capture images of people in locations with privacy expectations

can constitute digital voyeurism under F.S. 810.145. Florida also has specific drone regulations under Fla. Stat. 934.50, the "Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act," which restricts the use of drones by law enforcement and others to conduct surveillance.

Federal Overlay: TAKE IT DOWN Act (2026)

President Biden signed the TAKE IT DOWN Act on May 19, 2026. The federal law creates a right for victims of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII) -- including AI-generated deepfake images -- to demand removal from online platforms within 48 hours. The Act applies nationwide and provides a federal civil cause of action against individuals who knowingly publish NCII.

In Florida, this federal overlay supplements (but does not replace) the protections under F.S. 810.145. A person who records, distributes, or sells voyeuristic images may face:

State criminal charges under F.S. 810.145 (third-degree felony for dissemination)
Federal civil liability under the TAKE IT DOWN Act if the imagery was shared online
Sex offender registration requirements under F.S. 943.0435 in qualifying circumstances

The TAKE IT DOWN Act applies to AI-generated deepfake NCII as well as real recordings, meaning digitally altered voyeuristic images are covered under both federal and Florida law.

Relationship to Florida's Wiretapping Law

Digital voyeurism under F.S. 810.145 and illegal interception under F.S. 934.03 are separate offenses that can both apply to the same recording. If a hidden camera captures both video of a person in a private location and audio of their conversations, the offender can be charged under both statutes:

F.S. 810.145 for the visual recording in a private location
F.S. 934.03 for intercepting oral communications without all-party consent

Each statute carries its own set of penalties, and charges can be brought simultaneously.

Sex Offender Registration

Convictions for digital voyeurism under certain circumstances may require registration as a sex offender in Florida. Under Fla. Stat. 943.0435, a conviction for digital voyeurism involving a minor victim or other qualifying circumstances can trigger sex offender registration requirements. The specific registration requirements depend on the facts of the case and the victim's age.

Civil Remedies for Voyeurism Victims

In addition to criminal prosecution, victims of voyeurism and hidden camera recording may pursue civil remedies including:

Invasion of privacy lawsuits: Florida recognizes the tort of intrusion upon seclusion, which allows victims to recover damages for unreasonable invasions of their private affairs
Intentional infliction of emotional distress: Voyeuristic conduct can support claims for emotional distress damages
Injunctive relief: Courts can order the destruction of voyeuristic recordings and prohibit further conduct
Civil damages under F.S. 934.10: If audio was also illegally captured, the victim can recover statutory damages of $100 per day or $1,000 (whichever is higher), plus actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney's fees

How to Protect Yourself from Hidden Cameras

While this guide focuses on the law, practical protective measures include:

Inspect unfamiliar rooms (hotels, Airbnbs, locker rooms) for unusual objects or devices
Check for small pinholes in walls, mirrors, smoke detectors, or electrical outlets
Use a flashlight to look for camera lens reflections
Consider using an RF detector or camera finder device in sensitive locations
Report any suspicious devices to management and law enforcement

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is digital voyeurism in Florida?

Digital voyeurism under Florida Statute 810.145 involves using any imaging device (camera, smartphone, drone, smart glasses, etc.) to secretly [record a person in a location where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy, or to record under or through their clothing without consent](/us-laws/is-it-illegal-to-record-someone). The 2024 update expanded the law from 'video voyeurism' to 'digital voyeurism' to cover modern technology. For offenders aged 19 and older, this is a third-degree felony with up to 5 years in prison.

Is it illegal to put a hidden camera in my own home in Florida?

You can generally place cameras in common areas of your own home for security purposes. However, you cannot place hidden cameras in locations where other people in your household (roommates, guests, partners) have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as bathrooms, guest bedrooms, or changing areas. If the camera records audio, Florida's all-party consent law (F.S. 934.03) also applies.

What are the penalties for hidden camera voyeurism in Florida?

For offenders aged 19 and older, digital voyeurism is a third-degree felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Distributing voyeuristic recordings is also a third-degree felony at any age. Repeat offenders face second-degree felony charges with up to 15 years in prison and $10,000 in fines. Offenders under 19 face first-degree misdemeanor charges for a first offense.

Can I use a drone to record my neighbor in Florida?

Using a drone to record someone in a location where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy (inside their home, in a fenced backyard, through windows) can constitute digital voyeurism under F.S. 810.145. Florida also has the Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act (F.S. 934.50), which restricts drone surveillance. Recording your neighbor in a clearly public area may be legal, but pointing a drone camera at their private spaces is not.

What should I do if I find a hidden camera in a hotel room or Airbnb in Florida?

Document the camera's location with photos without touching or moving it. Contact local law enforcement immediately to file a report. Notify the hotel management or rental platform. Preserve any evidence. The person who placed the camera faces third-degree felony charges under F.S. 810.145, and you may have grounds for a civil lawsuit for invasion of privacy and emotional distress.

Sources and References

Florida Statute 810.145 - Digital Voyeurism(flsenate.gov).gov
Florida Statute 810.14 - Voyeurism(leg.state.fl.us).gov
Florida Statute 934.03 - Interception and Disclosure of Communications(flsenate.gov).gov
Florida Statute 934.50 - Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act(flsenate.gov).gov
Florida Statute 775.082 - Penalties and Sentencing(flsenate.gov).gov
Florida Statute 943.0435 - Sexual Offender Registration(flsenate.gov).gov
Florida Chapter 810 - Burglary and Trespass(flsenate.gov).gov

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Florida Voyeurism and Hidden Camera Laws: Digital Voyeurism Penalties (2026)

By Recording Law Editorial TeamPublished March 23, 2026Reviewed May 15, 202611 min read