Maine Voyeurism Laws: Hidden Cameras, Penalties, and Defenses (2026)

Under 17-A M.R.S.A. section 511, Maine makes it a crime to install or use a camera or recording device in a private place, such as a bathroom or changing room, without the consent of the people entitled to privacy there, whether or not the device is hidden, and to use a camera to record a part of someone's body concealed under clothing, even in public.

Maine's voyeurism laws protect individuals from being secretly recorded in private settings. The primary statute, 17-A M.R.S.A. section 511, criminalizes the use of cameras and recording devices to observe or record people in locations where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy. This guide covers what constitutes voyeurism in Maine, the penalties for violations, defenses, and the rights of victims.

Maine's Voyeurism Statute

17-A M.R.S.A. Section 511

Maine's core voyeurism law, titled "violation of privacy," makes it a Class D crime to intentionally, except in the execution of a public duty or as authorized by law:

• Install or use any device for observing, photographing, or recording in a private place without the consent of the people entitled to privacy there
• Install or use a device outside a private place to capture images or sounds from inside it that could not ordinarily be seen or heard from outside
• Trespass on property intending to overhear or observe someone in a private place
• Use a camera or other equipment in a public place to observe or record a part of someone's body that is concealed under clothing, where a reasonable person would expect it to be safe from surveillance

No sexual purpose, state of undress, or hidden device is required. Separate paragraphs cover the same conduct when the victim is under 16, and when it is done for sexual gratification with a victim under 16; both remain Class D crimes.

The statute covers all forms of recording technology, including smartphones, hidden cameras, spy cameras, drones, and any other device capable of capturing images or video.

What Constitutes a "Private Place"

Under section 511, a private place is "a place where one may reasonably expect to be safe from surveillance, including, but not limited to, changing or dressing rooms, bathrooms and similar places." Places that typically qualify include:

• Bathrooms and restrooms (in homes, businesses, and public buildings)
• Bedrooms and sleeping areas
• Hotel and motel rooms
• Changing rooms and fitting rooms in retail stores
• Locker rooms at gyms, pools, and fitness centers
• Medical examination rooms
• Tanning booths and salons
• Other places where a person may reasonably expect to be safe from surveillance

The expectation of privacy must be objectively reasonable. A person standing on a public sidewalk does not have the same privacy expectation as someone in a bathroom stall.

Criminal Penalties for Voyeurism

Classification and Sentencing

Repeat Offenses and Sentencing Factors

Every violation of privacy under section 511 is a Class D crime, including repeat offenses and cases with a victim under 16. Maine's general rule that raises the class for some repeat offenders (17-A M.R.S. section 1604(5)(B)) does not reach section 511.

Within the Class D range, facts such as the victim's age, a breach of trust by a teacher, coach, employer, or landlord, the number of victims, and prior convictions can affect the sentence a judge imposes. Some section 511 convictions also require sex offender registration, covered below.

Non-Consensual Intimate Images

17-A M.R.S.A. Section 511-A and Maine LD 1944 / PL 2025, c. 400

Maine has enacted a separate statute targeting the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, commonly known as "revenge porn." Under 17-A M.R.S.A. section 511-A, it is a single Class D crime when a person, all at once:

• Intentionally or knowingly shares, displays, or publishes an image of another person who is nude or engaged in a sexual act or sexual contact, or an image created or altered to appear to show that
• Does so with the intent to harass, torment, or threaten the person shown or someone else
• Knows or should have known that the person shown is identifiable from the image or accompanying information and has not consented
• Has no public or newsworthy purpose

The law does not apply to lawful medical practice, images of voluntary exposure in a public or commercial setting, or online platforms hosting content provided by someone else.

On June 20, 2025, Governor Janet Mills signed LD 1944 (PL 2025, c. 400), "An Act to Protect Individuals from the Threatened Unauthorized Dissemination of Certain Private Images, Including Artificially Generated Private Images," which expanded section 511-A to expressly reach AI-generated and deepfake intimate imagery. The amendment captures an image "that has been created or modified so that it appears to show" the person, closing the gap that previously excluded synthetic images. The same law also made threats to share such images grounds for a protection order.

At the federal level, the TAKE IT DOWN Act (Pub. L. 119-12, signed May 19, 2025) made it a federal crime, from the day it was signed, to knowingly publish non-consensual intimate images, including AI-generated deepfakes. Since May 19, 2026, it has also required covered online platforms to remove such images within 48 hours of a valid request from the person shown. The federal law complements Maine section 511-A and LD 1944.

Penalties for Non-Consensual Distribution

• Unauthorized dissemination of certain private images: Class D crime (less than 1 year in jail, $2,000 fine), regardless of whether it is a first or subsequent offense or the victim is a minor
• AI-generated/deepfake NCII: Same classification under LD 1944 amendment to section 511-A

Consent Issues

Consent to being photographed or recorded does not automatically mean consent to distribution. A person who agrees to be photographed by an intimate partner does not consent to that partner sharing the images with others. Consent to share a real image does not extend to AI-manipulated versions of that image.

Common Voyeurism Scenarios

Hidden Cameras in Homes

Placing hidden cameras in bathrooms, bedrooms, or other private areas of a home without the occupant's knowledge is one of the most common voyeurism offenses. This includes:

• Landlords hiding cameras in rental units
• Roommates placing cameras in shared bathrooms
• Intimate partners installing hidden cameras without the other's knowledge
• Babysitters or house guests placing cameras

Hidden Cameras in Businesses

Businesses that install cameras in restrooms, changing rooms, or fitting rooms violate Maine's voyeurism law. Employees who discover hidden cameras should report them to management and, if the employer is responsible, to law enforcement.

Upskirting and Downblousing

Using cameras or phones to capture images underneath or down a person's clothing without consent is voyeurism under Maine law, even in public places. The expectation of privacy in one's own clothing applies regardless of the location.

Digital and Technology-Based Voyeurism

Modern technology has created new forms of voyeurism:

• Using remote-access software to activate a victim's webcam
• Hacking into home security cameras
• Using drones to record through windows
• Exploiting smart home devices for surveillance

Defenses to Voyeurism Charges

Consent

If the person recorded consented to being observed or recorded, no voyeurism has occurred. Consent must be voluntary, informed, and specific to the recording in question.

No Reasonable Expectation of Privacy

If the recording took place in a location where the person did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy (such as a public beach or park), the voyeurism statute may not apply. This defense does not cover recording a part of someone's body concealed under clothing, which section 511(1)(D) makes a crime even in public.

Lack of Intent

The prosecution must prove that the person acted "intentionally," the mental state section 511 requires. Accidental or inadvertent recording may not meet this standard.

Law Enforcement Exception

Law enforcement officers acting under valid court orders or warrants are exempt from voyeurism charges when conducting authorized surveillance.

Rights of Voyeurism Victims in Maine

Criminal Prosecution

Victims should report voyeurism to local law enforcement. The Maine State Police and local police departments investigate voyeurism complaints. Prosecution is handled by the district attorney's office.

Civil Lawsuits

Victims of voyeurism in Maine can pursue civil lawsuits against the perpetrator. Available claims include:

• Invasion of privacy (intrusion upon seclusion)
• Intentional infliction of emotional distress
• Negligence (against a property owner who failed to prevent hidden cameras)
• Civil damages under wiretapping statute (15 M.R.S.A. section 711) if audio was also captured

Protection Orders

Victims can seek protection orders against the perpetrator. Maine's protection from harassment statute (5 M.R.S.A. section 4655, Relief, part of the Protection from Harassment chapter defined at section 4651) allows courts to issue orders prohibiting the perpetrator from contacting the victim and requiring them to stay away. Where intimate images were shared in violation of section 511-A, the court can also order the images removed, destroyed, or returned and bar further sharing.

Victim Services

Maine offers victim services through the Maine Office of Victim Services and local sexual assault crisis centers. The Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MECASA) provides support, advocacy, and referrals for voyeurism victims.

Sex Offender Registration

Under 34-A M.R.S.A. section 11273, two kinds of section 511 conviction are Tier I registrable offenses:

• Section 511(1)(D), at any victim age: using a camera or other equipment in a public place to observe or record a part of someone's body concealed under clothing (upskirting or downblousing), even when the victim is an adult
• Section 511(1)(F): a violation committed for sexual gratification when the victim had not attained 16 years of age

Other section 511 convictions, such as an adult-victim hidden-camera conviction under paragraph (B), do not by themselves trigger registration.

Registration for a qualifying conviction means listing on the Maine Sex Offender Registry maintained by the Maine State Bureau of Identification.

More Maine Recording Laws

Audio Recording | Video Recording | Voyeurism Laws | Workplace Recording | Recording Police | Phone Call Recording | Security Cameras | Recording in Public | Landlord-Tenant Recording | Dashcam Laws | School Recording | Medical Recording

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is voyeurism under Maine law?

Maine's violation-of-privacy law, 17-A M.R.S.A. section 511, makes it a crime to intentionally install or use any device for observing, photographing, or recording in a private place, such as a bathroom or changing room, without the consent of the people entitled to privacy there, to aim a device into a private place from outside, or to use a camera in public to record a part of someone's body concealed under clothing. No sexual purpose or hidden device is required. It covers all recording devices including phones, hidden cameras, and drones.

What are the penalties for voyeurism in Maine?

Violation of privacy under section 511 is a Class D crime (less than 1 year in jail, $2,000 fine), whether the victim is an adult or a minor under 16, and repeat offenses stay Class D. Sharing an intimate image to harass, torment, or threaten the person shown is a separate Class D crime under section 511-A. Some section 511 convictions also require sex offender registration.

Is sharing intimate images without consent illegal in Maine?

Yes, in most harmful cases. Under 17-A M.R.S.A. section 511-A, knowingly sharing a nude or sexual image of an identifiable person, including an AI-generated or altered image, without their consent and with the intent to harass, torment, or threaten, is a Class D crime (less than 1 year in jail, $2,000 fine), regardless of whether the victim is a minor or it is a repeat offense. The federal TAKE IT DOWN Act also makes knowingly publishing such images a federal crime.

Can I sue someone for voyeurism in Maine?

Yes. Victims can pursue civil lawsuits for invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligence. If audio was captured, civil damages under the wiretapping statute (15 M.R.S.A. section 711) may also apply. Victims can also seek protection orders.

Does a voyeurism conviction require sex offender registration in Maine?

Sometimes. Under 34-A M.R.S.A. section 11273, two kinds of section 511 conviction are Tier I registrable offenses: paragraph D (recording under someone's clothing in a public place) at any victim age, including adults, and paragraph F (a violation for sexual gratification where the victim had not attained 16 years of age). Other section 511 convictions, such as an adult-victim hidden camera in a private place, do not by themselves require registration.