A recent Inside Higher Ed story has put some University of North Carolina faculty on alert and is raising alarm bells for the Tar Heel student body too: “‘Notice Is Not Required': Letter Says UNC Chapel Hill Secretly Records Professors.”

It was news to a veteran UNC–Chapel Hill business school professor when he learned that his class sessions were being recorded without his knowledge as part of a months-long inquiry into class content and conduct.

Colleagues, as well, were surprised when school leadership confirmed that he wasn't the only professor whose lectures they've been recording, stating matter of factly that they have no obligation to notify instructors or students before doing so.

That's left not only UNC staff but also students and their families wondering what their privacy rights are, given that the university claims class sessions, including student questions, contributions, and discussions, can be recorded without prior knowledge or consent.

Are you concerned about being recorded without your knowledge in class? The Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team successfully represents students nationwide in cases against colleges and universities on a wide range of topics. Reach out online or call the Lento Law Firm now at 888.535.3686 to retain us.

Do Classroom Cameras Violate Student Privacy Rights?

By now, most of us have come to expect some level of public surveillance with the ubiquity of cameras in nearly every aspect of public life. At colleges and universities, surveillance systems have become even more omnipresent with gun violence concerns and since the rise in distance learning (and mitigation compliance monitoring) since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Post-secondary institutions, along with K-12 schools, generally have installed cameras in open public spaces like hallways, cafeterias, commons areas, gymnasiums, sports fields, auditoriums, and around campus. But is it legal for colleges to place cameras in classrooms and record students and staff without their knowledge? What about private offices, where students and staff could be discussing confidential matters?

Can universities like UNC-Chapel Hill really get away with clandestine recordings of lectures and class discussions? This kind of digital surveillance faces stiff resistance from those who argue that it violates civil rights and privacy rights.

Do you know what your college or university's recording policies are? Is there a chance your classroom contributions have been caught on candid camera? You have a right to know, and you may have a legal case should you discover your rights are being violated.

Is Your College Class Being Recorded Without Your Knowledge?

College and university classrooms are meant to be places for freedom of thought and expression, where students and staff should be able to engage in vulnerable and thought-provoking teaching, learning, and debate without wondering if school officials are surreptitiously recording their conversations.

If you're concerned about the privacy, misuse, bias, effectiveness, or legality of cameras in your school, college, or university, the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team will ensure your rights or your student's rights are protected.

Don't wait if you have any concerns about being recorded by your college or university without your consent. Call the experienced National Education Attorneys at the Lento Law Firm immediately at 888.535.3686 or reach out online.