Rep. Mace wants stronger penalty for voyeur spying crimes

Rep. Nancy Mace, South Carolina Republican, said Tuesday that spies who videotape their romantic partners and others without consent should face heftier penalties.

Ms. Mace said she was a victim of an ex-lover videotaping her without her approval and she showed blurred images from the offending recordings at a congressional hearing.

“I didn’t pick this fight, I don’t even want to be here today and discuss this but … he’s still roaming around South Carolina free, filming whatever genital parts he wants because no one has held him accountable,” Ms. Mace said.

Ms. Mace has proposed legislation intending to increase restrictions against video voyeurism and give victims new opportunity to sue their offenders.

The scope of potential victims of such snooping may extend beyond the main targets because of the advent of new tech tools.

Electronic Privacy Information Center executive director Alan Butler told the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform that snooping in private spaces can sometimes victimize bystanders.

Mr. Butler said in written testimony that visitors to someone’s home do not consent to the recording of their conversations but smart devices may be listening or logging their conversations regardless.

“Consumers should have access to information about when and how their voice or image is being recorded, such as through device registries, digital beacons, and other physical indicators when a device’s microphone is actively listening,” Mr. Butler said. “Even those who don’t nominally consent to the listening and recording of conversations face legal challenges to redress. For those who don’t accept the privacy policies of these devices, there is a conflict between state and federal wiretap law as to what rights apply.”

Mr. Butler urged lawmakers to prioritize scrutinizing devices and apps that pose greater danger from stalkers, such as family-tracking apps or recording features offered by connected cars.

“We find ourselves now in a period where the rapid expansion of pervasive computing has embedded tracking capabilities in our lived environment,” Mr. Butler said. “This is a time for action on all fronts to work to preserve the values enshrined in our Constitution and our laws, to ensure that we as individuals do not fall victim to the eradication of privacy by path of least resistance.”