Hidden microphones in store?

[cash_money]

My boss has hidden mics in my store but doenst have any signs posted to tell people that he can listen to them. He is not actually recording convos but nonetheless, he is still listening; I think it is illegal. Am i right?

[dmxlite]

what store, so we can avoid.... or pull pranks

[Frankie3s]

You know it's sneaky things like this that is so infuriating. We basically have no privacy as it is and it's only a matter of time before video equipment will be acceptable in washrooms too. Raping of the consumer seems to be so acceptable now a days.

[cash_money]

thanks for the input guys, but no one stated whether it is illegal or not...

[brendonp]

I'm certainly no lawyer, but I don't see a "legal" problem with mics.... I think it comes down to a reasonable expectation of privacy - which you certainly can't expect in a public store.

Technically, I'm not sure that there is really any ethical problem with this either; how is it different from installing CCTV cameras?

[Bullseye]

To me the issue is the lack of recording. Certainly, a store must advise customers if they are videotaping them to avoid legal issues, and I'm sure voice recording them would be the same. Mics without recording, though? Not sure about that, might be a grey area of law.

If challenged, surely his reason for doing so would play a part. What is his reason, anyways?

[awesome-o]

I'm no security expert, but it seems like hidden mics are a waste of time from a theft-prevention point of view. thieves don't talk out loud while they're stealing something. they don't say "ok, I'm taking the product out of its packaging and now I'm slipping it into my jacket. the time is 15:33"

unless he's trying to get consumer insights. but that's also a waste of time because he'd have to listen to a whole day's worth of audio.

maybe he's trying to catch employees talking shyt about him, but that's also a gigantic waste of time unless he has absolutely no life.

I would love to hear what your boss' rationale is for having these things installed.

[Kasakato]

It could be an invasion of privacy, and bad business practises, but without damaging someone, there's no grounds for a legal battle.

[V A N Q U I S H]

What is the store?

[mart242]

I'm pretty sure that it's legal. Canada is a "1 party" country, ie: as long as one side of the conversation knows that they are recorded (ie: the employee), everything is legal. It might be different if they record in areas where there are no employees.

[cloneman]

You know it's sneaky things like this that is so infuriating. We basically have no privacy as it is and it's only a matter of time before video equipment will be acceptable in washrooms too. Raping of the consumer seems to be so acceptable now a days.

I think cams are allowed as long as they are not pointed at the stalls/urinals....

[Siefer999]

What is the store?

cash money? the equivelent of money mart that is all around toronto

[cash_money]

I'm pretty sure that it's legal. Canada is a "1 party" country, ie: as long as one side of the conversation knows that they are recorded (ie: the employee), everything is legal. It might be different if they record in areas where there are no employees.

I happened to find out on my own, he never told me...

[cash_money]

cash money? the equivelent of money mart that is all around toronto

what ???

[raskal]

what ???

you seem reluctant to name your store. Not sure why, but could you tell us if it's a chain store or a privately owned single store?

seriously.... pranks could be real fun here :D

[GVRtrader]

I believe it depends on the location... the bigger question is whats the point. If its not recorded, it provided no legal use.

Also there should be a sign somewhere in the store because legal or not, once word spreads, the store will lose a lot of customers.

[cash_money]

thanks for all the input guys, but I think we should close the thread; no one seems to have the answer for my question and the responsed are getting more and more off-topic

[effie]

I found out, when shopping for a new home in Gatineau, that our conversation was being secretly recorded. So, all of our private discussions about how we could afford the house, what figure we could 'talk them down to' and what our bottom-line was that we would pay for the house was being listened to by the guy who was selling the house. Was that fair? I didn't think so.

Was it legal? I only wish I knew. I can tell you, we felt betrayed and absolutely invaded into what we thought was a personal space.

I would love to see the correct legal perspective on this.

[HockeyGirl]

thanks for all the input guys, but I think we should close the thread; no one seems to have the answer for my question and the responsed are getting more and more off-topic

haha.

or you just dont wanna answer the questions they're asking.

[cash_money]

I found out, when shopping for a new home in Gatineau, that our conversation was being secretly recorded. So, all of our private discussions about how we could afford the house, what figure we could 'talk them down to' and what our bottom-line was that we would pay for the house was being listened to by the guy who was selling the house. Was that fair? I didn't think so.

Was it legal? I only wish I knew. I can tell you, we felt betrayed and absolutely invaded into what we thought was a personal space.

I would love to see the correct legal perspective on this.


wow, that sucks...


haha.

or you just dont wanna answer the questions they're asking.

that could also be true...

[mart242]

Was it legal? I only wish I knew. I can tell you, we felt betrayed and absolutely invaded into what we thought was a personal space.

I would love to see the correct legal perspective on this.

Completely illegal. I mentioned that to my realtor one day (I said that I heard of people doing it and that it could be interesting to do). he said that I could end up in big troubles.

[Bytown]

Completely illegal. I mentioned that to my realtor one day (I said that I heard of people doing it and that it could be interesting to do). he said that I could end up in big troubles.

Some of these money money mart/cash money stores are not legal as well.