The House Civil Law Committee advances a bill that would require both people in an in-person conversation to know if they are being recorded. Metairie Representative Laurie Schlegel says there’s been a growing trend in which influencers wearing smart glasses approach women and record them without their knowledge, and those clips end up getting posted onto social media.
“When those clips have gone viral, the women suddenly find themselves recognized online, mocked in comment sections or turned into memes, even though they never knew they were being recorded or broadcast to millions,” Schlegel said.
Schlegel says this bill is intended to protect those who do not expect to be recorded while in public, so there are exceptions for those who have no reasonable expectation of privacy, such as elected officials or law enforcement officers.
“You think, when somebody has a direct in-person conversation with you, you’re not being recorded. And so I just want to protect those instances, while also having the exceptions when it comes to elected officials and law enforcement,” Schlegel explained.
Schlegel says if her bill becomes law, those who violate it would not only face criminal charges, but they would also open themselves up to substantial civil penalties.
“If someone secretly records that conversation, and the recording causes harm, then the person who was recorded has the ability to bring a civil action,” Schlegel said.
There are also exceptions for public meetings, emergencies, or situations where footage could capture evidence of a crime.
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