What Dealers Need To Know About The Wiretap Act

Due diligence required in the sale of personal security products

Are you well versed in the ins and outs of the federal Wiretap Act? Do you clearly apprise customers of the legalities of using the products you sell? Is there a prominently displayed disclaimer on your website and marketing materials regarding proper usage of hidden cameras and other devices?

If your customer plans to record telephone calls or in-person conversations without consent by the person they are recording, they should also be aware that doing so is illegal.

Let’s start with the definition of the law, which is aimed at protecting citizens’ privacy in communications with other persons. Typically, when you think of a "wiretap," the first thing that comes to mind is someone listening to your telephone calls. However, the Act protects more than that.

Under the Act, it is illegal to intentionally, or purposefully, intercept, disclose, or use the contents of any wire, oral, or electronic communication through the use of a "device." The Act contains specific language prohibiting the manufacture, distribution/sale, possession, and/or use to secretly intercept or record someone’s communications without their knowledge.

You should also be aware that hidden video devices with audio capabilities are also covered under the Wiretap Act and selling the devices is a violation of the law. It’s particularly important to know the features and capabilities of any hidden camera product you import, as there may be an audio recording feature.

Further, be cognizant of your advertising practices. Video recording and audio devices may not be marketed as covert or hidden recording products. Remember, only law enforcement may purchase and use hidden audio devices.

With regards to our company, it is KJB Security Products’ policy not to sell audio/video equipment domestically, except to law enforcement. Additionally, we include the following disclaimer on all marketing materials:

Some of the Product(s) purchased/sold by KJB are subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. Wire and Communications Act (18 United States Code §§ 2510-2522) (Act). The products include those with surreptitious listening devices, which are regulated by the Act. Additionally, the laws of some states, counties, cities or localities may prohibit the possession and/or use of some of the these products. It is the responsibility of the buyer to ascertain, understand, and obey any and all applicable local, state, and federal laws regarding possession and/or use of any KJB product. Diversion or re-export contrary to U.S. law is prohibited. ALL OFFERS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW

So, what are you doing to protect yourself, your company, your customers and the public? Are you doing enough? We’ll dive deeper into the legalities of hidden camera use as well as examine specific cases affecting not only the end user, but the dealers as well.


This article is in no way to be considered legal advice. Please review the laws in your own state and seek professional legal consultation as needed.

JLM Security Products Becomes Our Newest Market Pro Dealer

We're happy to give a Market Pro high five to JLM Security Products. After creating a nice video for the redesigned Zone Shield Clock Radio hidden camera DVR, they also participated the most in our #zoneshield Twitter campaign.

• Check out their blog for up to date articles on surveillance and covert security.

• Follow their branded Twitter, You Tube, and Facebook feeds for special news about SleuthGear® products.

• Watch their video about the Zone Shield Clock Radio. Simple, but hits the high notes:

Lighting conditions for optimal video quality

If you’re the first time owner of a hidden camera, there are several things you should know about lighting conditions and camera positioning before you begin recording footage.

Hidden surveillance cameras feature a pinhole camera, which due to the physical size of the lens, require well lit rooms for optimal image quality.

The good news is that many hidden cameras feature night vision technology, which is best when lighting conditions are not monitored and controlled, such as when you are away and lights are turned off, or overnight. Overall, night vision works better than non-night vision options even under typical household lighting conditions.

And when it comes to the positioning of a night vision camera, think of it like a flashlight. You aim your flashlight beam directly towards what you want to see. You may still see what is just on the edges of the beam, though it is more difficult to see. So, if you’re recording in the dark, be sure to point the camera lens’ “beam” to the area you wish to view best.

So, while night vision offers the best video quality in all lighting environments, keep in mind that while hidden surveillance cameras by their nature may not pick up the finest details of a subject, they will pick up the most important ones like male vs. female, ethnicity, type of clothing, physical activity of the person being recorded, etc.

Let’s take a look at a few images pulled from video footage. The images below show color video taken in well-lit and low light conditions using both non-night vision and night vision cameras. Notice the dramatic improvement in quality on the images done in house, especially the “well lit” conditions.

Non Night Vision recording in average lighting, notice the halo on the package:

Recording in average lighting with Night Vision:

Night Vision recording in complete darkness:

Lighting conditions are just one factor to consider when selecting the best hidden camera for your business or personal surveillance needs. The overall quality of the camera itself will play a large role in video quality – no matter the lighting conditions. If you want to ensure you’re selecting a higher quality device, we highly recommend looking for products designed in the U.S.

Meet our first Market Pro Dealer

We are happy to introduce our Market Pro Dealer program. As a wholesale distributor of spy and surveillance equipment, we depend on Dealers understanding our products enough to create engaging and timely content them. Home Security Store has done just that with a video blog detailing why you should choose a SleuthGear® hidden camera over the cheaper Chinese-made variety.

Click below to watch the video, then stay on their site to shop all the different SleuthGear cameras available.

The Honest Reviews calls the Zone Shield Night Vision Clock Radio DVR “a great product”

Tech expert Tony Tran with The Honest Reviews recently reviewed our new Zone Shield Night Vision Clock Radio DVR and we’re pleased that he rated the camera four out of five stars – and even higher on the design and ease of use. We’ve pulled out a few excerpts from the review below.

Here’s what Tony had to say about the design:
“The clock radio is light and the design is very stylish which makes it great to look at. It feels and weight similar to my real alarm clock, so there is no way to tell that it’s a hidden camera unless you open it up and look inside.”

And the video quality:
“I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the video in complete darkness. You can even read some of the text on the box shown in the image” 

Screen capture from video in a well lit room.

Screen capture from video with Night Vision working in total darkness.

Tony’s final thoughts:
“Overall, the Zone Shield Night Vision Clock Radio DVR is a great product as it was easy to setup, easy to use, very stylish design, and comes with a lot of features. If you are shopping for a nanny camera or hidden camera that is built into a working household appliances, then the Zone Shield Night Vision Clock Radio DVR SC8000 is definitely recommended. This device was assembled in America using high quality video surveillance components which makes it even more reliable as a hidden camera.”

Visit The Honest Review and read the full review as well as see pictures from the review process and enter for a chance to win a Clock Radio DVR!

Dealer Strategies: How To Newsjack

If you’re active in social media, then you’ve likely employed a strategy content marketing strategists call newsjacking. If you follow our Facebook page, then you’ve seen our “Caught on Camera” posts that show video footage of actual crimes taking place and reported in the news. In most cases, these posts show our products in action, most often capturing burglaries or abuse. This is the most basic form of newsjacking.

The term newsjacking refers to the process of attaching your brand, ideas or angles into breaking news, in real-time, in order to generate media coverage and engagement among your customers and prospects. In simpler terms: finding digital angles to major news events. The concept, when correctly executed, may also be employed in email marketing and may be reinforced with a clear call-to-action on your website.

The benefits of newsjacking include boosting SEO, engaging readers with timely commentary, sharing a new angle on a timely topic, and positioning yourself as a thought leader in your industry.

 

Whether you’re already doing this, or looking for new ways to reach potential customers, it’s important to note that you walk a fine line when you newsjack. This is especially true in our industry when readers might view it as fear-mongering or taking advantage of tragic news stories, so we urge you to be sensitive and use sound judgment. 

Before sharing a few tips, we thought we’d share a few examples of newsjacking done right – and wrong:

First, the Good

Police Newsjacking – Urgent Genius’ Jon Burkhart shares his thoughts on the Seattle Police Department’s use of “planned spontaneity” when they handed out Doritos at Hempfest with a sticker attached advising Hempfesters of the do’s and don’ts of the new marijuana laws. “Operation Orange Fingers” attracted global news coverage.

And one of the most famous examples to date of timely newsjacking is when Oreo Cookie used the Superbowl power outage to cleverly capitalize on the event with their Twitter post.

Then, the Bad and the Ugly

Newsjacks in poor taste include Kenneth Cole who Tweeted during the Arab Spring uprising in Egypt: "Millions are in uproar in #Cairo. Rumor is they heard our new spring collection is now available online... -KC.", and Kentucky Fried Chicken in Thailand who posted a Facebook update after an earthquake stating “Let’s hurry home and follow the earthquake news. And don’t forget to order your favorite KFC menu.’”

Stay One Of The Good Guys

So, when you see a story in the news that you think you might be able to leverage, we encourage you to review the following tips courtesy of Content Marketing Institute’s “Newsjacking: 6 Tips to Help Your Branded Content Use the News.”

• Stay tuned: You have to know what’s going on in the world if you want to newsjack. It’s crucial to plug in. 
• Be very discerning: A military coup, the death of a celebrity, a natural disaster — these are not events of which you should take advantage. 
• Act fast: To get the most traction; hop on news as soon as you can. 
• Make a natural connection 
• Take a constructive angle especially in the case of a disaster or tragedy. 

Sources: Content Marketing Institute’s “Newsjacking: 6 Tips to Help Your Branded Content Use the News.” For the complete post, visit: http://contentmarketinginstitute.com/2013/01/help-branded-content-use-news/

Redesigned for Good: The Evolution of the Zone Shield® Night Vision Clock Radio DVR

The Zone Shield Clock Radio sports branded packaging.

There is history behind every redesigned product. 

 KJB’s newly designed Zone Shield® Night Vision Clock Radio DVR was the result of repeated attempts to provide a reliable clock radio DVR that would not have to be tweaked, fitted, or modified. Years in the making, working with products off the shelf of Walmart, and several visits to China still had not resulted in what KJB considers to be an acceptable surveillance device. We finally determined that a retrofitted product would just never be good enough.

Working with our partner in Taiwan, we designed the new clock radio specifically to fit a hidden camera and DVR or wireless transmitter. No more futzing with the inner wires or power supply, no more glue joints. Nothing to give away that the clock had been modified. 

A wireless QUAD and QUAD LCD version
available in September, 2013

In this new design, the IRs are invisible, completely undetectable from the face of the clock and can capture action up to 20 feet away in almost total darkness. The SD card slot is completely hidden under something that looks like a normal part of a clock and is much easier to access. It’s hard to tell if we’ve designed a hidden camera to operate as a clock or a clock designed to operate as a hidden camera.

Clock radio DVRs are a dime a dozen. But the Zone Shield® Night Vision Clock Radio DVR is in a class by itself.