Hidden camera laws in Alabama

The actual statute, in plain English — not a paraphrase of a paraphrase.

The statute

Ala. Code § 13A-11-32.1 (Aggravated Criminal Surveillance)

What it prohibits

Alabama bans intentionally surveilling a person in any place where that person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, without their express or implied consent, for the purpose of sexual gratification. Unlike the state’s basic criminal-surveillance law, this offense does not require the observer to be trespassing — it covers hidden cameras and covert viewing wherever privacy is reasonably expected. A related but separate misdemeanor, § 13A-11-32, covers general covert surveillance while trespassing in a private place.

Penalty

Class C felony.

This is general public information, not legal advice, verified against the statute text linked below as of this writing — legislatures amend these laws periodically (Florida renamed its own statute in 2024). If this matters for a real situation, read the current text yourself or talk to a lawyer: https://law.justia.com/codes/alabama/title-13a/chapter-11/article-2/section-13a-11-32-1/. Separately, recording audio of a conversation is governed by a different law (wiretap/eavesdropping statutes, which vary by state on whether one party or all parties must consent) — this page covers image/video capture only.

If you've actually found something, the statute matters less than what you do next: read the six steps here.

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Other states

AlaskaAlaska Stat. § 11.61.123 (Indecent Viewing or Production of a Picture) ArkansasArk. Code Ann. § 5-16-101 (Crime of Video Voyeurism) ConnecticutConn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-189a (Voyeurism) Delaware11 Del. Code § 1335 (Violation of Privacy) IndianaInd. Code § 35-45-4-5 (Voyeurism; Public Voyeurism; Aerial Voyeurism) IowaIowa Code § 709.21 (Invasion of Privacy — Nudity) KansasKan. Stat. Ann. § 21-6101(a)(6) (Breach of Privacy) KentuckyKRS § 531.090 (Voyeurism)