Kings County, NY Privacy & Surveillance: Recording & Consent Laws (2026)

New York Penal Law §250.00 and §250.05 establish the one-party consent framework applicable in Brooklyn and throughout New York City. A person may record any conversation they are a party to without informing the other participants. This applies to in-person conversations, phone calls, and video calls. If you are part of the conversation, you may record it. Recording a conversation you are not a party to (eavesdropping) without the consent of at least one participant violates NY Penal Law §250.05, a class E felony punishable by up to 4 years in prison. Video recording without audio in public spaces — streets, subways, parks, stores — is broadly permitted under both state law and First Amendment protections. NY Penal Law §250.45 (Unlawful Surveillance) makes it a class E felony to use an imaging device to record someone in a private place without consent. This includes cameras, drones, or other devices aimed at bedrooms, bathrooms, or changing areas. New York's one-party consent law is notably more permissive than neighboring states like Connecticut (all-party consent) and the federal wiretapping standard. Doorbell cameras, body cameras, and dashcams all operate under the one-party consent rule when the owner is a participant.