Are "nanny cams" a violation of babysitters' rights?

No

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by Carmen Colin

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While society is in the need of more babysitters, security sometimes becomes an issue. If a parent has had the necessity of having to hire a nanny, they, first of all, have to know that this nanny will never put their child through danger under his/her supervision. When interviewing a nanny, there will be one thing you will not find on their resume; their tolerance level of children. Many would be skeptical, and would believe that if a nanny is a nanny, that they understand children. This is not always the case. In times like this, a parent is not always sure if the nanny will live up to his/her title. A parent hiring a nanny HAS to protect their children, regardless of who's supervision the children are under. For many parents, a camera can be the witness that prevents a nanny from harming or neglecting their children. While some nannies may or may not be aware that they are being watched, they might have objections when they find out. Other people that have not been in the "nanny business" will either choose to say nanny cams do not violate babysitters rights, or they will agree and say nanny cams do violate babysitters rights. For those that say secret cameras are not a violation of babysitters rights, I hear you. As stated above, a parent uses this nanny cam to protect their children; which is completely understandable. Second, a babysitter is in your home, giving you full rights to the camera. Lastly, if an accident occurs in which the nanny claims no part in, the camera can be used as evidence for or against the nanny.

Protection is something everyone needs. When you place your trust in a babysitter, you expect them to use that trust as a means of protecting your child. Yet in this rebellious society, you may not be aware when your child is being mistreated by the nanny. Nanny cams can help you solve this problem. When you install a hidden camera, protection is typically in the person's mind. Nanny cams let you see if wrong doing is occuring in your home. For example, a nanny cams was used as evidence against a nanny that intentionally dropped an 11 month old boy three feet above the ground. She was also caught throwing and kicking the infant. Upon reviewing the video, the torture ended, and the nanny was arrested. There are similar stories of abuse, yet only a handful of abused children have happy endings to the story. The nannies that do this kind of harm are the ones we need to protect our children from. Yet when the interview comes up, you can not distinguish their personality, character, tolerance level, etc. In a way, you hire a stranger to watch your child. This can also help you see early on if the babysitter has good or bad intentions. Aside from protection, the nanny cams are in your home, so they do not violate any laws.

As long as the nanny is in your home, it is safe to place a camera in your home. They help you protect your belongings; I do not recall protecting your property against the law. There is however, one drawback to videotaping the nanny, either in your home or on a child's personal belonging. Currently, it is legal to use a hidden camera, but it is illegal to record speech without consent. Yet if you place a camera in your home, without recording speech, the story works out. I mean, you do not need to hear anything coming from the tape if you already clearly see the abuse/neglect being done, or the nanny stealing personal items. Whether protecting your child or the camera being in your home, the last reason can help the nanny out of trouble.

Imagine coming home one day after a long day of work. You see your child, with a bruise on his/her arm. Your first question by instinct "What happened?" or "Who did this to you?" The child might say the truth and say it was an accident. Although you think its true, your child might say a lie, and say the nanny did it. There are rare times in which the child can tell a lie, and in these cases, they can help a nanny. When the parent views the tape and sees that the nanny did not hurt the child, the child may be reprimanded. But when it is shown in the tape that the nanny did hurt the child, confrontation has to occur, and justice follows swiftly.

When deciding whether or not to install a hidden camera, you need to consider the rights of the babysitter. But what exactly are these rights? And what of the parent's and/or child's rights? The parent's/children's rights are viewed as reasons as to how nanny cams do not violate babysitters rights. One reason is because the parents use these cameras to see if their child is not being protected to the fullest. Another reason is because the cameras are placed in one's home, so its the owners property. Lastly, a nanny cam can help solve a problem which can help (or hurt) the nanny. Whether nanny cams do or do not violate any babysitters rights, this topic will always be controversial.

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