What Legal Recourse Do I Have if My Privacy Was Violated Through Voyeurism in a Vacation Rental?
Imagine renting a cottage for the weekend only to discover that the landlord hid cameras to capture your most intimate moments. This is not a hypothetical. It’s a gross invasion of privacy that occurred right here in South Carolina and continues to impact innocent renters. Heinous crimes like voyeurism are becoming more commonplace as online streaming platforms continue to profit from unlawfully obtained materials. Hidden cameras in vacation rentals are a reality, but so are the dedicated privacy violation lawyers at Ryan Beasley Law.
If you suspect an Airbnb host, landlord, or property manager invaded your vacation rental privacy, you may be entitled to substantial compensation.
Understanding South Carolina Voyeurism Laws
Though privacy laws differ by state, renters generally enjoy the same right to privacy in vacation homes as in their own homes. This right attaches when you enter into a digital or written contract to take possession of the vacation rental for the designated time period. Privacy protections include the right to be free from actual and digital voyeurism as defined by South Carolina criminal law.
A ‘peeping tom’ may be criminally prosecuted for voyeurism if he or she, for sexual purposes, spies on one or more individuals through windows or doors or by using audio or video equipment. Unlawfully obtained materials may include the following:
- Photographs
- Audio recordings
- Videos
- Digital electronic files
- Any other films or digital files of a sexual nature obtained without the victim’s knowledge and consent
In South Carolina, your right to be free from voyeuristic activities and recordings extends to any place where you have a reasonable expectation of privacy, including vacation rentals. A dedicated victims’ rights lawyer can help you file a police report for suspected voyeurism and protect you during sensitive criminal investigations. Courts may require those convicted of voyeurism, including those who knowingly post and view unlawfully obtained materials, to pay restitution.
Holding Property Owners and Landlords Accountable for Privacy Violations
In addition to the criminal penalties imposed in South Carolina, victims might also sue ‘peeping toms,’ online platforms, property owners, and vacation rental companies for privacy violations. These civil lawsuits may include claims for invasion of privacy, negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, trespass, and breach of contract, among other causes of action. Damages available for these gross violations of privacy could include direct compensation for emotional distress and punitive damages to punish offenders and negligent property owners. An experienced victim and privacy rights attorney can review the facts of your case to identify viable civil claims.
Trust Our Experienced South Carolina Personal Privacy Lawyers
The dedicated privacy rights lawyers at Ryan Beasley Law have obtained verdicts of over $30 million for victims of digital voyeurism in South Carolina vacation rentals. Protect yourself and others potentially victimized by gross privacy invasions by contacting our experienced legal team to schedule a case consultation today. Call us now at (864) 679-7777 or contact us online.