Rhode Island
Rhode Island Voyeurism and Hidden Camera Laws: Penalties and 2025 Update (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. · 4 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Rhode Island criminalizes video voyeurism under R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-64-2, which prohibits using an imaging device, for the purpose of sexual arousal, gratification or stimulation, to capture visual images of another person's intimate areas without their knowledge and consent where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy. A conviction carries a penalty of up to three years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Rhode Island treats voyeurism and hidden camera offenses as serious crimes. The state's video voyeurism statute, R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-64-2, makes it a crime to secretly capture images of another person's intimate areas, for a sexual purpose, where they expect privacy, with a penalty of up to three years and a $5,000 fine. The separate law against sharing intimate images, § 11-64-3, adds a felony tier for repeat offenses. For the general rules on recording someone without consent, see our separate guide. In 2025, Rhode Island expanded its unauthorized dissemination law to cover images created by a digital device or altered by digitization, wording that reaches AI-generated synthetic intimate images even though the statute does not use the term AI.
This guide covers what conduct is prohibited, penalties, the 2025 digital-imagery amendment, hidden camera scenarios, defenses, and victim remedies.
Video Voyeurism: § 11-64-2
It is a crime, for the purpose of sexual arousal, gratification or stimulation, to use or install an imaging device to capture, record, store or transmit images of another person's intimate areas without that person's knowledge and consent, in circumstances where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Intentionally disseminating, publishing or selling such an image, knowing it was obtained that way, is also covered, as is using an imaging device, for the same purpose, to look into an occupied dwelling or other building. Penalties: up to 3 years prison and/or $5,000 fine.
Unauthorized Dissemination: § 11-64-3
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-64-3 makes it a crime to intentionally disseminate, publish, or sell an intimate or sexually explicit image of an identifiable adult without consent, when the image was meant to stay private or was made without consent, and the person sharing it knows or recklessly disregards that the depicted person will be harmed, or intends to harass, intimidate, threaten, or coerce them. Its exemptions include images of voluntary exposure in public or commercial settings and sharing for law enforcement, legal proceedings, medical treatment, the public interest, or a matter of public concern.
| Offense | Classification | Maximum Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| First offense | Misdemeanor | 1 year prison, $1,000 fine |
| Second or subsequent base offense | Felony | 3 years prison, $3,000 fine |
| Sextortion (§ 11-64-3(e)) | Felony | 5 years prison, $5,000 fine |
| Removal-extortion (§ 11-64-3(f)) | Felony | 5 years prison, $5,000 fine |
2025 Digital-Imagery Amendment
Rhode Island amended § 11-64-3 in July 2025 (S 0136 and H 5046, P.L. 2025 ch. 429 and 430) to cover intimate images created by a digital device or altered by digitization. The amendment does not use the words AI or deepfake, but its language reaches synthetic intimate images of a real person.
The offense is sharing, publishing, or selling such an image without consent, under the same penalty tiers. Creating one without distributing it is not a crime under this section.
Hidden Camera Scenarios
Hidden cameras in rental properties, workplaces (bathrooms/locker rooms), and hotels can violate the voyeurism statute when they capture intimate areas for a sexual purpose. Separately, an employer may not make any audio or video recording of employees in a restroom, locker room, or changing room without a court order, whatever the purpose (R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-6.12-1). If you discover a hidden camera: document it, do not remove it, contact police, and consult the Rhode Island Attorney General.
Civil Remedies
Victims can sue under Rhode Island's privacy statute, R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-28.1, for an unreasonable intrusion into a private place or for publicizing private facts. The suit can be brought in Superior or District Court, and the court may award attorney fees. Claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress, injunctive relief, and restraining orders may also be available. The Rhode Island Legal Services provides free legal assistance to qualifying individuals.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is voyeurism a crime in Rhode Island?
Yes. Video voyeurism under R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-64-2 is punishable by up to 3 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
What is the penalty for sharing intimate images without consent in Rhode Island?
A first offense is a misdemeanor (up to 1 year and $1,000). A base second or subsequent offense is a felony (up to 3 years and $3,000 under § 11-64-3(d)). Sextortion and removal-extortion each carry up to 5 years and $5,000 under § 11-64-3(e) and (f). The 2025 amendment (H 5046 / S 0136, signed July 2, 2025) extends coverage to digitally created or digitized images, which reaches AI-generated content.
Does Rhode Island's law cover AI-generated deepfake intimate images?
In practice, yes. The 2025 update to § 11-64-3 covers images created by a digital device or altered by digitization; the statute does not name AI, but that language reaches synthetic intimate images of real people shared without consent.
Can my landlord put hidden cameras inside my apartment in Rhode Island?
Generally no. Tenants have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Hidden cameras in rental units that capture intimate areas for a sexual purpose violate the voyeurism statute.
What should I do if I find a hidden camera in Rhode Island?
Document it, do not remove it, contact police, and consult the Rhode Island Attorney General's office or an attorney about civil remedies.
Updates
Made clear that the listed exemptions to Rhode Island's image-dissemination law are examples, not the full list.
Stated the full elements and exemptions of Rhode Island's intimate-image dissemination law, and softened an absolute answer about landlord cameras.
We corrected this page to say that the 2025 amendment punishes sharing, not creating, synthetic intimate images, to state the voyeurism statute's sexual-purpose and intimate-area elements and single penalty tier, to name Rhode Island's privacy statute as the civil remedy, and to fix the 2025 bill and chapter numbers.
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes
We corrected the description of Rhode Island's video voyeurism statute, R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-64-2, to reflect that it requires a sexual arousal or gratification purpose and covers images of intimate areas, plus imaging the interior of an occupied dwelling.
Reworded the 2025 amendment coverage to quote the statutes actual digital-device and digitization language rather than branding it an AI deepfake law.
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
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 Video Recording Laws: Surveillance, Filming, and Privacy Rules (2026), Rhode Island AI Laws and Regulation (2026), Rhode Island Data Privacy Laws: RIDTPPA Consumer Rights Guide (2026)
Sources and References
- R.I. § 11-64-2(law.justia.com)
- RI Attorney General(riag.ri.gov).gov
- RI General Assembly(rilegislature.gov).gov
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-64-2 - Video Voyeurism(webserver.rilegislature.gov).gov
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-64-3 - Unauthorized Dissemination(webserver.rilegislature.gov).gov
- Rhode Island Legal Services(rils.org)