Is this a coincidence or should i be worried?

[mumspiration1997]

We had a visitor over the weekend. It is a family member who in the past has been known for this "type" of thing should i say. Not exactly this but things of this nature, such as (sending screenshots, bullying tactial behaviour)

Things have been frosty as late and has not came to my house for maybe 4 or 5 months. Visited late one evening at weekend as it was DH birthday, with a gift.

However i was in and out and putting washing away etc but when i came back in she was showing us a video of a child and i seen a timer in green on the left side of the screen at top she quickly slid it away. (Iphone) on my phone a green timer is an ongoing call but i have now asked google who tells me it is a voice recorder on certain iphones.

The time on the timer aligned with the time she arrived (confirmed this with my ring doorbell) 😐

It was one minute more. Surely this is not a coincidence and surely against social norms if not illegal to record a conversation in which children were also speaking. I didnt say anything at the time as this person would have victim mentality and i was worried she would turn it on me somehow.

DH said he did notice it but thought it was an alarm.

I do not know what to do about this.

No it is not illegal.

Weird, but not illegal.

Sounds like this is your dm/mil.
It is illegal to record someone without their permission.
Why would this person want 'evidence'.

Sorry, am a little confused. She was on a video call with a child and your husband and was recording it?

Anyway, no, it's not illegal. I think the legal part of it comes with if it's shared without permission because the people in the video have a right to privacy.

What do you think this person was trying to do?

She was showing the video of the child to who? Your dc?
who is the child on the video? Was it a FaceTime with the child?

Not in the UK it's not.

Sorry for mix up about the video. This person was showing us a video of her child on her phone from last week playing a sport. This is when we spotted the timer as she may have quickly forgot hetrelf.

I dread to think what the evidence was for 😮‍💨

The convos she normally has are talking about other fam members but ive learn a while ago she cant be trusted to even mention anyone else 🫠

It's still not clear.
You think she was just recording your conversations in the home of you and your family while showing a video?

Ah, ok. Edited for your edit!
So it sounds like she was just recording your voices.
It's not illegal.
However, I'd never let this person in my house again.

In her defence, things had been frosty perhaps she was expecting to be turned away at the door and wanted evidence of same? Not sure though.

I think she put on vooce recorder came on and set the phone upside down right beside her . Then 20mins had passed and i noticed the timer while she showed us a photo but she quickly swiped it away. The next hour was interesting...

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

Why did you let her in?

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?

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.

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

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.

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

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

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