Prohibits manufacturers or operators of networked camera devices to enable coordinated surveillance features on such devices as a default feature without first obtaining affirmative opt-in consent from the owner; requires disclosure of data rights for owners of such devices; prohibits coordinated surveillance features to be disclosed to law enforcement without a warrant; makes related provisions.
STATE OF NEW YORK
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9267
IN SENATE
February 19, 2026
___________
Introduced by Sen. MAY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Consumer Protection
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to enacting the
"consumer camera privacy act"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
2 the "consumer camera privacy act".
3 § 2. The general business law is amended by adding a new section 390-f
4 to read as follows:
5 § 390-f. Networked camera devices; coordinated surveillance features.
6 1. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms
7 shall have the following meanings:
8 (a) "Networked camera device" means any internet-connected device sold
9 to consumers that captures video or still images of persons or property,
10 including but not limited to video doorbells, security cameras, and
11 similar devices.
12 (b) "Coordinated surveillance feature" means any function of a
13 networked camera device that transmits, shares, pools, or makes video
14 footage or derivative data accessible to persons other than the owner of
15 such networked camera device, including but not limited to networked
16 search functions, crowdsourced tracking systems, biometric analysis, and
17 community alert features.
18 (c) "Biometric analysis" means the use of automated systems to identi-
19 fy, track, or categorize individuals based on physical characteristics,
20 including but not limited to facial geometry, gait, or voice.
21 (d) "Default setting" means any configuration of a networked camera
22 device that is active upon initial setup without affirmative action by
23 the owner of such device.
24 (e) "Manufacturer or operator" means a person or entity that:
25 (i) manufactures a networked camera device; and/or
26 (ii) provides digital services to owners of internet-connected
27 networked camera devices, including but not limited to, accessing
28 recorded video footage or still images that are saved on a remote serv-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14888-01-6
S. 9267 2
1 er, remote access to live video footage, or access to other features of
2 such networked camera devices.
3 (f) "Owner" means the owner of a networked camera device.
4 2. Prohibited practices. No manufacturer or operator of a networked
5 camera device shall:
6 (a) enable any coordinated surveillance feature as a default setting;
7 provided, however, that such coordinated surveillance features may be
8 offered only upon the owner's affirmative opt-in consent, obtained sepa-
9 rately from general terms of service;
10 (b) use footage captured by an owner's networked camera device for
11 algorithm training, product development, or any purpose other than
12 providing services directly requested by such owner, without separate
13 affirmative consent;
14 (c) retain footage captured by a networked camera device that has not
15 been activated with a paid subscription or affirmative owner setup for
16 more than seventy-two hours, unless such owner affirmatively elects
17 longer retention; or
18 (d) condition basic networked camera device functionality on owner
19 participation in any coordinated surveillance feature.
20 3. Disclosure requirements. (a) At the point of sale of any networked
21 camera device, the following disclosures shall be displayed prominently
22 and separately from other product information regarding such networked
23 camera device:
24 (i) whether such networked camera device records to local storage,
25 remote server storage, or both;
26 (ii) whether any footage is transmitted to the manufacturer or opera-
27 tor, or other third parties, absent owner action;
28 (iii) whether any coordinated surveillance feature is included and, if
29 so, such coordinated surveillance feature's default status; and
30 (iv) such networked camera device's data retention practices.
31 (b) Upon initial setup of a networked camera device, the manufacturer
32 or operator shall present the consumer with a plain-language summary of
33 data collection practices before any recording function is enabled on
34 such networked camera device.
35 4. Owner data rights. (a) Upon request, a manufacturer or operator
36 shall provide the owner with all footage captured by such owner's
37 networked camera device within seventy-two hours, regardless of
38 subscription status, in a commonly used electronic format.
39 (b) Upon request, a manufacturer or operator shall delete all footage
40 and derivative data associated with an owner's networked camera device
41 within thirty days.
42 (c) An owner may revoke consent to any coordinated surveillance
43 feature at any time, and such revocation shall take effect within twen-
44 ty-four hours.
45 5. Law enforcement access. (a) No footage from a coordinated surveil-
46 lance feature shall be disclosed to any law enforcement agency except
47 pursuant to a warrant issued upon probable cause or the networked camera
48 device's owner's voluntary and informed consent given in response to a
49 specific request.
50 (b) Manufacturers and operators shall publish annual transparency
51 reports detailing the number of law enforcement requests received, the
52 number complied with, and the legal process relied upon.
53 6. Enforcement. (a) The attorney general may bring an action to enjoin
54 violations of this section and to obtain civil penalties of up to ten
55 thousand dollars per violation, or up to twenty-five thousand dollars
56 per violation where such violation was willful.
S. 9267 3
1 (b) Any person injured by a violation of this section may bring a
2 civil action to recover actual damages or five hundred dollars per
3 violation, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney's fees and
4 costs.
5 § 3. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a
6 law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of
7 any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on
8 its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before
9 such effective date.
