# What do you think about recording sex sessions? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 14, 2011, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-recording-sex-sessions/567602 "2011-01-14T15:13:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-recording-sex-sessions/567602/1 "2011-01-14T15:13:21Z")
Imagine you have a bachelor friend who has security cameras dotted around his house, including in his bedroom. These cameras normally record images only at a low frame rate but have motion detectors and switch to full-speed with sound when motion is detected. He confides in you that he leaves these cameras on 24/7. On occasion, he entertains ladies overnight. Their sex sessions are perforce recorded. What do you think of him **at this point**? He goes on to say that he’s thankful of this because one woman accused him of raping her and he was able to use the recording to provide absolute proof of his innocence (details are NOT relevant). He finishes by saying, “Sometimes a man needs more than a condom for protection.” What do you think now? ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-recording-sex-sessions/567602/2 "2011-01-14T16:04:19Z")
I think he’s a pervert and what he’s doing is illegal. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-recording-sex-sessions/567602/3 "2011-01-14T16:07:31Z")
> [@Ibanez](#): > > I think he’s a pervert and what he’s doing is illegal. this ---
**Author:** ![fuzzypickles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9d8465/32.png) [@fuzzypickles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzypickles)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-recording-sex-sessions/567602/4 "2011-01-14T16:13:27Z")
> [@Ibanez](#): > > I think he’s a pervert and what he’s doing is illegal. AFAIK, it’s _not_ a crime to record yourself in the company of another person, even if you’re gettin’ hot & heavy with mirrors on the ceiling and pink champagne on ice. NO consent is required from the second person – it only becomes an issue if you’re a third party recording people’s activities without their knowledge or consent, and even that’s not criminal unless “reasonable expectation of privacy” applies. Having said all that, methinks the OP’s “friend” is better at telling grandiose tales than gettin’ laid…just sayin’. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-recording-sex-sessions/567602/5 "2011-01-14T16:23:10Z")
> [@fuzzypickles](#): > > AFAIK, it’s _not_ a crime to record yourself in the company of another person, even if you’re gettin’ hot & heavy with mirrors on the ceiling and pink champagne on ice. NO consent is required from the second person I don’t think that’s accurate…I thought that once clothes started to come off, there is some kind of reasonable expectation or privacy that you aren’t being photographed or videotaped. ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-recording-sex-sessions/567602/6 "2011-01-14T16:36:17Z")
> [@fuzzypickles](#): > > AFAIK, it’s _not_ a crime to record yourself in the company of another person, even if you’re gettin’ hot & heavy with mirrors on the ceiling and pink champagne on ice. NO consent is required from the second person – it only becomes an issue if you’re a third party recording people’s activities without their knowledge or consent, and even that’s not criminal unless “reasonable expectation of privacy” applies. > > Having said all that, methinks the OP’s “friend” is better at telling grandiose tales than gettin’ laid…just sayin’. :dubious: I have personal experience of someone in my family being recorded without her knowledge during sex . The cops took it pretty seriously, because of the realtionship she had with his parents she never pressed charges. Lucky him. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-recording-sex-sessions/567602/7 "2011-01-14T16:41:29Z")
> [@Ibanez](#): > > I have personal experience of someone in my family being recorded without her knowledge during sex . The cops took it pretty seriously, because of the realtionship she had with his parents she never pressed charges. > > Lucky him. Interesting: I’m curious, what was the crime they were planning to charge him with, exactly? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-recording-sex-sessions/567602/8 "2011-01-14T16:50:03Z")
> [@fuzzypickles](#): > > Having said all that, methinks the OP’s “friend” is better at telling grandiose tales than gettin’ laid…just sayin’. :dubious: This scenario is entirely hypothetical. ---
**Author:** ![fuzzypickles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9d8465/32.png) [@fuzzypickles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzypickles)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-recording-sex-sessions/567602/9 "2011-01-14T16:54:33Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > I thought that once clothes started to come off, there is some kind of reasonable expectation or privacy that you aren’t being photographed or videotaped. Not to my knowledge, no. Naturally, recording yourself having sex with someone without their awareness or consent is a highly despicable act, which would definitely raise several red flags with the police – but without any additional complications, there’s really nothing the law can do about it. It could become a potential civil matter, though – especially if the “friend” is in the business of distributing the video to other people. > [@Quartz](#): > > This scenario is entirely hypothetical. Ah, okay. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-recording-sex-sessions/567602/10 "2011-01-14T17:10:57Z")
It would be completely unethical to record someone having sex without her permission. Legalities, I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![LionelHutz405](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lionelhutz405/32/536_2.png) [@LionelHutz405](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LionelHutz405)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-recording-sex-sessions/567602/11 "2011-01-14T17:21:09Z")
I’ve seen this mentioned on various men’s rights sites as a way to protect yourself from false rape accusations. It’s easy to prove sex took place, but impossible to prove it was consensual if rape charges are made later. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-recording-sex-sessions/567602/12 "2011-01-14T17:31:39Z")
> [@](#): > > If you plan to record telephone calls or in-person conversations **(including by recording video that captures sound)**, you should be aware that there are [federal](http://www.citmedialaw.org/glossary/8/letterf#term216) and state wiretapping laws that may limit your ability to do so. These laws not only expose you to the risk of criminal prosecution, but also potentially give an injured party a [civil](http://www.citmedialaw.org/glossary/8/letterc#term206) claim for money [damages](http://www.citmedialaw.org/glossary/8/letterd#term210) against you. (Bolding mine.) [Recording Phone Calls and Conversations | Digital Media Law Project](http://www.citmedialaw.org/legal-guide/recording-phone-calls-and-conversations) ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-recording-sex-sessions/567602/13 "2011-01-14T19:19:06Z")
Maybe it’s the lawyer in me, but my preference is to station a court reporter in the closet. That way, if there are ever any questions, I can just refer to the transcript. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-recording-sex-sessions/567602/14 "2011-01-14T19:24:02Z")
As a musician, I prefer to keep sex separate from recording sessions, but sometimes people need to work off tension to play their best. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![fuzzypickles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9d8465/32.png) [@fuzzypickles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzypickles)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-recording-sex-sessions/567602/15 "2011-01-15T00:12:59Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > As a musician, I prefer to keep sex separate from recording sessions… [Could be worse…](http://www.snopes.com/music/hidden/roller.asp) ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-recording-sex-sessions/567602/16 "2011-01-15T00:26:05Z")
> [@fuzzypickles](#): > > especially if the “friend” is in the business of distributing the video to other people. I can see that definitely being a crime. But, as long as it’s never ever distributed, and is purely for security and not for his personal jollies, I don’t think that any other part of it is illegal. It may be ethically questionable and in some ways quite repellent, though. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-recording-sex-sessions/567602/17 "2011-01-15T01:07:53Z")
Is some video equivalent of Auto Tune involved? Because, if so, thats just plain offensive any way you look at it. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-recording-sex-sessions/567602/18 "2011-01-15T01:27:15Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Maybe it’s the lawyer in me, but my preference is to station a court reporter in the closet. That way, if there are ever any questions, I can just refer to the transcript. What if your partner invokes her right to remain silent? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-recording-sex-sessions/567602/19 "2011-01-15T01:35:18Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Maybe it’s the lawyer in me, but my preference is to station a court reporter in the closet. That way, if there are ever any questions, I can just refer to the transcript. Smart. But everytime I do that, the reporter wants to join in, and that just spoils the mood something terrible. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-recording-sex-sessions/567602/20 "2011-01-15T02:06:52Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Imagine you have a bachelor friend who has security cameras dotted around his house, including in his bedroom. These cameras normally record images only at a low frame rate but have motion detectors and switch to full-speed with sound when motion is detected. He confides in you that he leaves these cameras on 24/7. On occasion, he entertains ladies overnight. Their sex sessions are perforce recorded. > > What do you think of him **at this point**? That he was being either prudent or just liked recorded sex. > [@Quartz](#): > > He goes on to say that he’s thankful of this because one woman accused him of raping her and he was able to use the recording to provide absolute proof of his innocence (details are NOT relevant). He finishes by saying, “Sometimes a man needs more than a condom for protection.” > > What do you think now? Same. I’ve always been told that it’s perfectly reasonable for women to treat every man they meet as a potential rapist; I fail to see why it’s then wrong to return the favor and treat every woman like a potential accuser. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-recording-sex-sessions/567602.md?page=2)