Here are All the Places You’re Being Filmed in Arizona

A recent debate about Flock Safety License Plate cameras in Cochise County led me to a conversation with a friend. In a nutshell, we were talking about this: does a private citizen have an expectation of privacy while they're in public? How many times every day are you likely to be filmed?

Did George Orwell Imagine Surveillance in the Modern Age?

When the novel 1984 by George Orwell was published in 1949, he drew on themes of totalitarianism that emerged during World War II. Drawing on very real fears, he wrote about governments that sought absolute power over citizens, politically, socially, and psychologically.

At the time, Orwell was writing a work of fiction, an abstract concept that wasn't technologically feasible at the time. Fast forward less than a hundred years later. Microchips, cameras, and digital recording capabilities have made near-constant surveillance not only possible but a reality.

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Where Are You Being Recorded In Everyday Arizona Life?

How far are you from the nearest camera or microphone? You already have a powerful recording device in your pocket. We use it to take cute photos of our dogs, sure, but it's handy if something goes sideways and you need to document an event in real time.

But who's recording you while you're out and about in Arizona? If you're in public, there's a good chance you've been captured on a surveillance camera, not just once but repeatedly.

Arizona law generally allows video recording in public spaces where there’s no reasonable expectation of privacy

Retail Recording

For decades, retail stores have invested in security cameras to prevent theft and monitor activity. You're keenly aware of being filmed when using self-checkout kiosks, and you can see your own mug as you scan items. But, surprise! You've been on camera the whole time you were in the store; they're just a bit more subtle about the process as you peruse the aisles.

Cameras on the Street

Traffic cameras are all over Arizona, too. Some towns have red‑light and license‑plate readers that quietly capture your every move as you move through a city. These systems help enforce traffic laws and track vehicles.

If you're in your own personal vehicle, do you have an expectation of privacy? In a word: no. That's because roads are public; courts have consistently held that drivers don’t have a reasonable expectation of privacywhen they're traveling in their cars.

RELATED: Is It Legal to Secretly Record Someone in Arizona?

What About Dash Cams And Law Enforcement Recording?

Law enforcement vehicles often use body-worn cameras. Both police and and private citizens often dashcams to record traffic, traffic stops, and to legally document events in case of an emergency.

Dashcam recordings in public are allowed because people in public spaces typically don’t have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Arizona is a one‑party‑consent state for audio recordings, meaning only one person in a conversation needs to agree to be recorded.

READ MORE: Dashcams in Arizona: What’s Legal and What’s Not?

When Is Filming Actually Illegal?

If you're in public, there's very little expectation of privacy, but there are a few exceptions.

Arizona law draws a firm line for filming in private spaces. Under ARS § 13‑3019, it’s illegal to secretly photograph or film someone in places where they reasonably expect privacy, like in bathrooms, locker rooms, bedrooms, or anywhere someone is nude or undressing. Violating this statute is a felony, and the law applies whether the recording device is hidden or obvious.

Here are a few more places you're not allowed to film or take photos in Arizona: 5 Places You're Not Allowed to Take Photos in Arizona.

Bottom line: in Arizona, you're probably on camera much more often than you realize, and it's perfectly legal.