Rhode Island
Rhode Island Video Recording Laws: Surveillance, Filming, and Privacy Rules (2026)
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited November 1, 2026). · Reviewed by the RecordingLaw editorial team. · Law checked current as of November 1, 2026. · 5 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Rhode Island places no general restriction on video recording in public spaces. Secretly capturing images of someone's intimate areas where they expect privacy, for a sexual purpose, is video voyeurism under R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-64-2, which carries a penalty of up to 3 years in prison.
Rhode Island places few restrictions on video recording in public but enforces strong protections against voyeurism and non-consensual intimate images. In 2025 the state extended its ban on sharing intimate images to AI-generated deepfakes. Video voyeurism under R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-64-2 carries up to 3 years in prison.
This guide covers public filming rights, voyeurism and intimate image laws, the 2025 deepfake update, workplace surveillance, and video evidence rules.
Public Video Recording
Rhode Island has no law prohibiting video recording in public. You can generally film on streets, sidewalks, and parks and at protests. The Open Meetings Act (R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 42-46) requires most meetings of public bodies to be open to the public, but it does not itself address filming, so check the body's rules before you record.
The First Circuit, which covers Rhode Island, held in Glik v. Cunniffe (2011) that the First Amendment protects filming police and other government officials doing their jobs in public. That right has limits: under Gericke v. Begin (2014) an officer may order you to stop if your filming interferes with police work, and officers can still give reasonable safety orders, such as telling you to move back.
Video Voyeurism: R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-64-2
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-64-2 makes it a crime, for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification, to use or install a camera to capture images of another person's intimate areas without their knowledge and consent where they reasonably expect privacy. It also covers knowingly sharing such images and using a camera to look into an occupied home for a sexual purpose.
Filming someone in a private place without that sexual purpose is not video voyeurism, but it can still lead to a civil privacy lawsuit under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-28.1.
| Offense | Maximum Penalty |
|---|---|
| Video voyeurism | 3 years prison, $5,000 fine |
| Unauthorized dissemination (1st) | 1 year prison, $1,000 fine |
| Unauthorized dissemination (2nd or sub. base, (d)) | 3 years prison, $3,000 fine |
| Sextortion (§ 11-64-3(e)) | 5 years prison, $5,000 fine |
| Removal-extortion (§ 11-64-3(f)) | 5 years prison, $5,000 fine |
2025 Update: AI-Generated Deepfakes
In July 2025, Rhode Island expanded R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-64-3 so that its ban on sharing intimate images without consent also covers images "created by a digital device or altered by digitization", which reaches AI-generated deepfakes of real people. The crime is distributing, publishing, or selling such an image without consent. Creating one without sharing it is not covered by this section.
Workplace Video Surveillance
Employers can install cameras in common areas. Rhode Island law bars employers from making any audio or video recording of employees in a restroom, locker room, or employer-designated changing room unless a court authorizes it (R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-6.12-1).
More Rhode Island Recording Laws
Audio Recording | Video Recording | Voyeurism & Hidden Cameras | Workplace Recording | Recording Police | Phone Call Recording | Security Cameras | Recording in Public | Landlord-Tenant | Dashcam Laws | Schools | Medical Recording
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More Rhode Island Recording Topics
More Rhode Island Laws
- Rhode Island AI Meeting Recording Laws
- Rhode Island Dashcam Laws
- Rhode Island Data Privacy Laws
- Rhode Island Deepfake Laws
- Rhode Island Employee Monitoring Laws
- Rhode Island GPS Tracking Laws
- Rhode Island Police Bodycam Laws
- Rhode Island Smart Glasses Recording Laws
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to video record someone in Rhode Island without their knowledge?
In public, generally yes. In private settings, secretly capturing someone's intimate areas for a sexual purpose is video voyeurism under § 11-64-2. Filming someone in a private place without that purpose is not voyeurism, but it can lead to a civil privacy lawsuit under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-28.1. Recording the audio of a conversation you are not part of raises a separate wiretap issue under § 11-35-21.
Does Rhode Island have a revenge porn law?
Yes. R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-64-3 covers unauthorized dissemination of intimate images. A first offense is a misdemeanor (up to 1 year). A second or subsequent base offense is a felony (up to 3 years); the aggravated sextortion and removal-extortion tiers under (e) and (f) each reach up to 5 years. The 2025 update also covers sharing AI-generated deepfakes.
What is the penalty for video voyeurism in Rhode Island?
Video voyeurism under § 11-64-2 carries up to 3 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Does Rhode Island's 2025 deepfake law cover AI-generated intimate images?
For sharing, yes. In July 2025 Rhode Island amended § 11-64-3 so its ban on distributing intimate images without consent also covers images created by a digital device or altered by digitization, which reaches AI-generated images of real people. The crime is distributing, publishing, or selling such an image. Creating one without sharing it is not covered by this section.
Can video recordings be used as evidence in Rhode Island courts?
Yes. Lawfully obtained video recordings are generally admissible. The recording must be authenticated, relevant, and not unduly prejudicial.
Updates
We corrected this page to say that Rhode Island's 2025 deepfake amendment punishes sharing, not creating, AI-generated intimate images, that video voyeurism requires a sexual purpose and intimate areas, that the Open Meetings Act does not itself address filming, and that the First Circuit right to film police has limits.
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Corrected the FAQ answer on Rhode Island intimate-image penalties: a base second/subsequent offense under § 11-64-3(d) tops out at 3 years, not 5; the 5-year figure applies only to the separate aggravated sextortion/removal-extortion tiers under (e) and (f).
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Reviewed and approved by an editor
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Rhode Island General Laws, Title 11: Criminal Offenses, Chapter 11-64: Electronic Imaging Devices
§ 11-64-2Video voyeurismIn forcecited in 12 of our articles
(1) A person is guilty of video voyeurism when, for the purpose of sexual arousal, gratification or stimulation, such person: (a) Uses, installs or permits the use or installation of an imaging device to capture, record, store or transmit visual images of the intimate areas of another person without that other person’s knowledge and consent, and under circumstances in which that other person would have a reasonable expectation of privacy. (b) Intentionally, and with knowledge that the image was obtained in violation of subsection (a), disseminates, publishes, or sells such image of the captured representation of another person or persons depicted in the representation or reproduction, and who did not consent to the dissemination, publication or sale. (2) A person is also guilty of video voyeurism when that person, for the purpose of sexual arousal, gratification or stimulation, looks into an occupied dwelling or other building by use of an imaging device that provides images of the interior of a dwelling.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at webserver.rilegislature.gov
Cited in 1 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2014
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- United States v. Thoms (U S Coast Guard Court of Criminal Appeals 2014)“…2C:14-9 (West 2013); 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 7507.1 (2012); R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-64-2 (2004); S.C. Code Ann. § 16-17-470 (201…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Rhode Island Smart Glasses Recording Laws 2026, Rhode Island Recording Laws (2026): One-Party Consent Rules, Rhode Island Landlord-Tenant Recording Laws: Renter and Landlord Rights (2026)
§ 11-64-3Unauthorized dissemination of indecent materialIn forcecited in 10 of our articles
(a) A person is guilty of unauthorized dissemination of a sexually explicit visual image of another person when the person intentionally, by any means, disseminates, publishes, or sells: (1) A visual image that depicts another identifiable person eighteen (18) years or older engaged in sexually explicit conduct or of the intimate areas of that person including any image created by a digital device or altered by digitization; (2) The visual image was made, captured, recorded, or obtained under circumstances in which a reasonable person would know or understand that the image was to remain private or created without the consent of the person; (3) The visual image was disseminated, published, or sold without the consent of the depicted person; and (4) With knowledge or with reckless disregard for the likelihood that the depicted person will suffer harm, or with the intent to harass, intimidate, threaten, or coerce the depicted person.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at webserver.rilegislature.gov
Also relied on in: Rhode Island Voyeurism and Hidden Camera Laws: Penalties and 2025 Update (2026), Rhode Island AI Laws and Regulation (2026), Rhode Island Data Privacy Laws: RIDTPPA Consumer Rights Guide (2026)
Explore the law
This article also draws on these acts and chapters (opening at their first section): Rhode Island General Laws, Title 42: State Affairs and Government, Chapter 42-46: Open Meetings § 42-46-1 (Public policy)
Related law for further reading — not part of this article’s citations.
Sources and References
- R.I. § 11-64-2(law.justia.com)
- RI General Assembly(rilegislature.gov).gov
- FAA UAS(faa.gov).gov
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-64-2 - Video Voyeurism(webserver.rilegislature.gov).gov
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-64-3 - Unauthorized Dissemination of Intimate Images(webserver.rilegislature.gov).gov
- R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 42-46 - Open Meetings Act(webserver.rilegislature.gov).gov