Home security cameras and MIL

[AWildPlaceToStart]

We have had security cameras fitted at our new home that we moved into 3 months ago. They record all around the outside of the house and parts of inside but just by external doors and our home offices. There are none in our family’s actual living space.

My MIL has kicked up a huge fuss saying that she doesn’t want to be recorded and is refusing to come to our house unless we get rid old them or turn them off when she’s here which we won’t be doing. We have asked what exactly the problem is and she just says she doesn’t want to be recorded in our home but can’t or won’t really say why.

Would you have a problem with the cameras? If so, what would be your concerns as I’m trying to understand what MILs issue is.

My ds put cameras inside for a few months and I hated it. I felt as if I had to watch every single thing I said and did. Bearing in mind we were also doing childcare for our dgs.
Outside fine, inside I think It’s a huge invasion of privacy.

I’d immediately be suspicious. I'm assuming she doesn’t have issues with CCTV in public places?

We have cameras in every room in our house (except bathrooms obviously), I wouldn’t be turning them off for anyone.

Just tell her you’ve turned them off, she won’t know any different.

why do you need cameras inside? It’s weird.

I’d hate knowing cameras were watching me even if I wasn’t doing anything dodgy. I think I’d feel very uncomfortable in your MIL’s situation too to be honest.

I guess you're not even going to check the cameras unless you get an unexpected visitor or there's unexplained damage/something missing from your home. I'd just tell her where they are, so she know where not to sit/stand for a reasonable amount of time if it bothers her.

Just for security. As I said, they’re only by external doors and our offices. We know lots of people that have cameras in more rooms so it’s not weird to us.

Get your partner to deal with her.

She can refuse to visit, it’s up to her. Sounds like a win to me…

Hmmmnn it’s one thing to be out and about knowing there are ctv cameras but I would hate to think that my actual friends and family are watching me. It’s an invasion of privacy and not very welcoming.

Does she have a key for the house? I’m pretty sure I read a thread a couple of months ago where the Mil was letting herself in when the op was at work, and having a nosy around. Could it be something like this at the heart of her upset, op?

He has told her that we are not getting rid or turning them off.

Why does mil need ‘dealing’ with.
Op can have cameras if she wants, mil can choose not to visit.
I didn’t refuse to visit my ds but I didn’t like knowing that if ds and ddil wanted they could basically spy on me even if I was cleaning their home and caring for dgs.
I was outside at the bin one day and ddil voice boomed out of the ring doorbell, I nearly wet myself.

Yes, for the mil.

I assume she never goes anywhere in public then?

I’m sure your friends wouldn’t be interested in watching you. I’m not interested in watching a recording of MIL driving up the driveway or coming through the front door, but can’t help that she will be recorded as a consequence of us wanting security cameras if she visits, which she wants to.

MIL would only be visiting when we were home so we wouldn’t be ‘spying’ on her. If we sit in any room downstairs other than the kitchen, there will be no cameras recording her and even in the kitchen she would have to be right by the doors to be seen.

I don’t know exactly why but I would hate this, it’s not as bad as phone tracking but it’s the same idea, and it’s always for “security”.

I’m glad I don’t know anyone with cameras indoors. If DD did this I’d probably still visit but would suggest meeting outside her home as much as possible.

Problem solved, then. Don't give it a second thought.
If anyone tried to force or manipulate me into anything at all they can fuck right off.
'if you don't do the thing I am demanding, I wont-' 'ok.'

Surely you only need external cameras outside on the doors/entry points? Who are you expecting to see going into the office or whatever indoors?
A relative of mine has cameras to check on their pets when they’re away from home. I’ve told them that I won’t look after their pets for them if they’re away if they turn the cameras on when I’m there. They either trust me or they don’t.
I was a nanny years ago and I’m almost certain that they had cameras indoors. I wish I’d taken legal advice about it back then because again, they either trusted me or they didn’t.
I don’t really blame your MIL. It’s an invasion of privacy.

I guess you haven’t suffered a break in whilst you were in the house. I have and I’d love cameras everywhere.

Yeah i dont know anyone with cameras inside. Its weird.

Why? What are you expecting your family members to do?

If the house was empty I could understand it.

I know, but she would like to visit and we would like her to as well, so we are just trying to understand what the actual problem is beyond ‘I don’t want to be recorded in your home’. It’s interesting that some posters have said the same but haven’t really been able to say why. It’s not that MIL or anyone else has to, but we would like to be able to understand so maybe we can stop her being worried about it if possible.

This. Your house, your choices.

It’s not ‘weird’ among people I know. It’s common.