[Kathryn Crowthe]

Next door neighbour has cameras pointed at our house, yards and onto our paddock. The even seem to know when we sneeze. I find it very confronting to know our every detail is being watched and filmed. Can we do anything about this. Kathryn

[joypulv]

Interesting legal question. I don't know of any law that could force them to stop this, and there's the burden of proving they are filming you. Unless they have outdoor cameras installed for hundreds of feet, I might install a high fence that just blocks the house. How many stories is their house? Many locales restrict the height of a fence. Alternative could be fast growing evergreens.

Do you know why they are filming you? Have you had disputes? Have you talked to them? Dogs roaming, etc?

[Fr_Chuck]

video in most places. (you did not way where this was) but in the US you may video any public place. It is audio, the sound recording that has more restrictions.

Where the cameras always there? Is it part of a new over all security system?
I know my older house in Atlanta Ga. Had video cameras showing ever angle

[smoothy]

I agree, there is only an issue if the camera has a zoom lens and is pointed directly into a window and not just the general direction of your house. (very hard to prove) and also not in every jurisdiction. They are entitled to surveillance of their property and if someone else's is in the line of sight of the camera, doesn't change that.

I suggest opaque blinds or Venetian blinds that can be angled to prevent looking in.

If I lived in a lot of other places other than I do (very, very low crime rate area) I'd have extensive video surveillance of my property too.

[AK lawyer]

... The[y] even seem to know when we sneeze. ...

I echo Joypulv's curiosity: how do you know what they know about your activities (I assume that part about sneezing is hyperbole)?

But, as others have said, they have the right to do this, as long as their equipment is not physically on your property.

[ScottGem]

First, any question on law needs to include your general locale as laws vary by area.

Second, while the cameras may be pointed in the general direction of your property, they may not be specifically there to monitor you. They may simply be part of the neighbor's security system to monitor their property and your proximity puts you in the scope of the cameras.

Third, I find this curious; "The even seem to know when we sneeze." Have they done anything to indicate that they know what you are doing? Joy's question about your relationship and history with them is very much on point.

But, unless you can prove that they are specifically monitoring you and not just protecting their property, I doubt if there is much you can do to get the cameras removed. So your alternatives are to put curtains and/or one way tintings on the windows that face the cameras (a coating that allows you to see out but blocks people from looking in) or you can build privacy fencing or put up trees or hedges along the property line.

[AK lawyer]

... they may not be specifically there to monitor you. ...
unless you can prove that they are specifically monitoring you and not just protecting their property, I doubt if there is much you can do ...

I disagree here: if the cameras are on their own property, I believe the neighbors can monitor OP, if they wish.

[NeedKarma]

Isn't there a reasonable expectation of privacy?

[ScottGem]

I disagree here: if the cameras are on their own property, I believe the neighbors can monitor OP, if they wish.

I'm just not so sure here. We aren't talking about surveillance cameras in public areas. These are cameras that cover private property only. I don't believe people have an inherent right to invade privacy like that. On the other hand, they do have a right to protect their own property with surveillance and the fact that, in doing so, they may infringe on someone else is probably not be enough to stop it. It would have to be shown that the purpose of the cameras is to monitor someone else's private property.

[AK lawyer]

"Reasonable expectation of privacy" is a phrase which has meaning in the context of governmental searches or seizures possibly in violation of an individual's 4th Amendment rights. It has no bearing on relations between individuals.

And, by the way, OP cannot reasonably expect the neighbors not to see OP from the neighbors' property. If the neighbor can see it, the neighbor can record it (except that in some places you cannot record another person's conversation without that person's knowledge).

[ScottGem]

Seeing is one thing, recording is another. Laws are changing on this so without knowing where the OP is we can't tell if there might be a legal remedy. I agree a legal remedy is a long shot, but it might exist.

I do think the OP's best bet is to block the cameras at their property line.

[smoothy]

Except that many places have strict zoning laws and regulations pertaining to fence height and placement. Very unlikely to be high enough to matter since most are placed under the eaves of the building or high enough to cover the area desired.

Also most surveillance systems are not monitored 100% of the time....and simply record over the oldest files over and over continuously. for up to 30 days or more depending on how much drive space, what quality, if there are triggers to start and stop and how many cameras.

Someone only goes back to a certain period of time if they have a reason to. Everything recorded doesn't exist forever, its overwritten and gone forever eventually. And 99.9999% if not more will never be viewed in a home or small business environment.

[ballengerb1]

This is totally legal in most private property in the USA.The camera is on the enighbors property. Long before its view reaches your property it sees his property. Maybe he wants to make sure you do not trepass.