Is this a coincidence or should i be worried?

Surely this is not a coincidence and surely against social norms if not illegal to record a conversation in which children were also speaking.

How could anyone here possibly know whether it was a coincidence?

It’s not illegal, all you can do is either not let her in to your house; confiscate her mobile or speak in code with your family when she’s around.

Evidence of being turned away when you let her in? None of this is making any sense. Evidence for who?

So assuming she was recording your conversation, do you have any idea why? Was she steering the conversation in a certain direction? What were you talking about?

If you didn't say anything bad, which I guess you wouldn't if you don't trust her, then she has nothing. But I would be wary of her visiting again. Do you actually know she was recording you? You don't sound as though you know what the timer was for, perhaps it was just the video timer?

There's been a couple of threads recently where people have been found recording conversations on iphones - honestly, I'd never be able to relax in that person's company again.
It's a wonder we're not all paranoid gibbering wrecks in this age of constant recording/videos!

In the UK, laws about recording conversations pertain to organisations, not individuals. It’s not illegal to record a conversation for your own personal use, regardless of where the recording is taken, and you don’t need the consent of anyone in the recording. There’s no context or nuance, it’s simply not illegal. What happens to the recording afterwards is where context is applied: if it’s made with the intention to blackmail or impersonate, it’s illegal. Sharing it with people who weren’t involved in the conversation or publishing it is illegal (though the extent to which the law is interested depends on the situation.) A judge’s permission may be required for it to be admissible as evidence in court.

OP, your relative is somebody best ignored and kept out of your house if they have a history of nasty behaviour towards you.

Oh really? And which criminal offence is being committed here?

The issue depends on why you think she’d be recording you all.

You say it’s frosty - so was she protecting herself.

Or is she a shit stirrer and trying to get you to slag off other family members.

I would be surprised if she was voice recording and showing you videos on her phone - I would have thought she’d have stayed off her phone completely.

But you will never know if she was recording you unless it comes out and so there’s no point worrying about it too much.

Stop letting her in your house.

She sounds unwell (or a shit stirrer).

Can you quote the law that makes it illegal? I feel you have made this up.

When you say 'leaning towards' is it illegal or not? Sorry, genuine question.

It's probably best not to treat your own opinion as the definition of the law.

The law is based on context and is certainly not a yes or no answer. Someone entering a private home and recording while not under threat without the owners knowledge is leaning towards the illegal side

No of course it's not illegal to press record on your phone. How could it be?

How would anyone ever film evidence of ASB, poor driving, abuse, etc? Someone doing something wrong is hardly going to consent to being filmed?

Not that your family did anything wrong of course. And it's definitely peculiar they chose to record you. But not illegal.

Work on the assumption that she was recording you and DH.

Is there anything she could use that recording for?
Were you bad mouthing other family members? Spouting off racist crap? Talking about killing the neighbours dog? Saying how much you love stewed spinach? Were you saying anything that you would be ashamed of if it were made public?

If not, you have nothing to worry about.

Separately, it is up to you whether you ever have her back in the house. But if you do, assume you are being recorded every time

Where I live it is illegal to record someone without their consent.

Why would she want to record your voices? You might as well ask her, though she probably won't tell you, and will deny it.

Im still lost and not tech savvy, how can she have been recording you while showing a video?
could the timer be related to something else?

Why did you let her in?

I think that’s the last time she’d be in my house!

Maybe she didn't want to outstay her welcome so set a timer to remind her to leave.

It does sound like she was recording you. So you have no idea why? I guess there's nothing you can do really. Except be very very careful of what you say in front of her in future.

Sounds weird, why are you letting someone in your house you don’t trust?

It's not illegal to record a conversation that you are part of, even if the other participants are unaware.

Just cut her off and tell her she’s not welcome at your house any more. I’d not be putting up with freaks with nefarious intentions in my house.

Hmmm... yeah, she sounds pretty weird.
Honestly, I wouldn't allow her in your home if she cannot be trusted. It's quite creepy tbh, regardless of any unsettled history you all may have.