To report illegal surveillance, document everything you’ve observed, preserve any physical or digital evidence without tampering with it, then contact the agency whose jurisdiction matches the conduct: local police for hidden cameras, GPS trackers, or someone physically following you; the FBI for wiretapping, intercepted communications, or cyberstalking; the Federal Trade Commission for commercial spyware and companies collecting your data deceptively; and the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division if a government official is behind it. Most illegal surveillance is prosecuted under state law, so your local police report is usually the anchor, with federal agencies layered on when the conduct crosses state lines or involves electronic interception.
Which Agency to Contact
Choosing the right agency saves weeks. A report filed with the wrong office isn’t lost, but it gets rerouted while nothing happens on your case.
Local Police
Your local police department handles the physical side: a hidden camera in a rental, a tracking device on your car, someone following you. Police can open an investigation, execute search warrants, and refer charges for prosecution. If the person surveilling you is an ex-partner or someone you know, the police report also creates the paper trail you’ll need for a protection order later.
FBI
The FBI takes surveillance crimes that cross state lines or involve electronic interception. Contact your nearest FBI field office if someone is wiretapping your phone, reading your email, or eavesdropping on your electronic communications. These violations fall under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, which carries penalties of up to five years in prison.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S.C. 2511 – Interception and Disclosure of Wire, Oral, or Electronic Communications Prohibited The FBI also investigates cyberstalking, which covers using electronic communications or the internet to place someone in reasonable fear of death or serious injury, or to cause substantial emotional distress.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 2261A – Stalking
For internet-related surveillance, you can also file through the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at complaint.ic3.gov. The online form walks you through your information, the suspect’s details, and a description of the incident.3Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). IC3 Complaint Form IC3 doesn’t replace contacting your field office for anything urgent, but it feeds the FBI’s broader cybercrime tracking.
Federal Trade Commission
When a commercial product or company is the source — spyware you can buy, tracking software bundled into an app, or a business collecting your data through deception — the FTC is the right agency. It has authority to investigate companies distributing surveillance products and using deceptive data-collection practices.4Federal Trade Commission. Spyware Workshop – Monitoring Software on Your Personal Computer FTC action targets the company rather than an individual; it won’t produce criminal charges against a person, but it can shut down the tool being used against you.
DOJ Civil Rights Division
If a government official or law enforcement officer is conducting the surveillance in a way that violates your civil rights, report it to the DOJ Civil Rights Division. You can file online at civilrights.justice.gov, by phone at (202) 514-3847 or toll-free at 1-855-856-1247, or by mail to the Civil Rights Division at 950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20530-0001.5United States Department of Justice. Contact the Department of Justice to Report a Civil Rights Violation You can submit anonymously, but providing contact information lets DOJ follow up.
Is What Happened to You Actually Illegal
The legal test turns on whether you had a reasonable expectation of privacy — did you personally believe the situation was private, and would society agree. Inside your home, a hotel room, a restroom, or a changing room, that expectation is strong. On a public sidewalk, it’s essentially zero. Video in public places is broadly legal because anyone could see you. Audio is stricter: federal law prohibits intercepting phone calls, emails, and other electronic communications without authorization.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S.C. 2511 – Interception and Disclosure of Wire, Oral, or Electronic Communications Prohibited For in-person conversations, federal law lets you record if one participant consents, but roughly a dozen states require all parties to agree. Check your state’s wiretapping statute if you’re unsure.
Two categories often confuse people. Workplace monitoring is more permissible than most employees expect: federal wiretap law has a service-provider exception, and employers typically layer written consent policies on top to justify monitoring email, phone calls, and computer activity. Cameras in break rooms and hallways are usually legal; cameras in restrooms or locker rooms never are. Short-term rentals are the other trouble spot. Cameras in bedrooms or bathrooms violate the law everywhere. Cameras in common areas may be legal in some jurisdictions with clear disclosure to guests.
Installing spyware on someone’s personal device without consent can violate federal law on its own. The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act makes it a crime to access a protected computer without authorization or to exceed authorized access, and personal phones and laptops connected to the internet qualify.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 1030 – Fraud and Related Activity in Connection With Computers
Evidence to Gather Before You Report
Strong evidence is the single biggest factor in whether your report leads anywhere. Start a written log with dates, times, and locations of every incident. Note the small things: an unfamiliar vehicle parked outside repeatedly, a charger you didn’t plug in, a phone whose battery suddenly drains in half the usual time. Patterns give investigators context that a single observation can’t.
If you find a physical device — hidden camera, microphone, GPS tracker — photograph it from several angles but do not touch or move it. Tampering can destroy forensic evidence and, in some situations, alert whoever planted it. If the device is on your vehicle, leave it in place until law enforcement tells you otherwise.
Digital surveillance calls for a different approach. If you suspect spyware on your phone or computer, take screenshots of unfamiliar apps, strange pop-ups, or settings changes you didn’t make. Save suspicious emails and texts. Avoid running antivirus tools or deleting apps before a forensic examiner can look at the device, because cleanup software can wipe the evidence you need.
Write down names or descriptions of anyone you suspect, and collect contact information from witnesses. If you believe your home or office is bugged but can’t locate a device, consider hiring a professional who performs technical surveillance countermeasure (TSCM) sweeps. These specialists use radio frequency scanners and other equipment to detect hidden cameras, listening devices, and GPS trackers a visual search would miss.
Making the Report
For local police, call the non-emergency line or walk into the station. Reserve 911 for immediate danger. Bring your entire evidence package: the written log, photographs, screenshots, witness contact information, and anything else you’ve collected. Officers who can see a timeline and physical evidence in front of them are far more likely to open a case than officers hearing a verbal summary.
Present the facts in chronological order. Start with when you first noticed something wrong, walk through each event, and show the supporting evidence at each step. Stick to what you observed rather than speculating about motives. If you have a theory about who’s responsible, state it as a suspicion and let the evidence speak.
Before you leave, get a copy of the police report or at minimum the case number. That number is your lifeline for checking on the investigation, filing for a protection order, or pursuing a civil claim. Without it, you’re starting over every time you contact the department.
For federal agencies, the mechanics differ. FBI field offices take walk-ins and calls; IC3 and the DOJ Civil Rights portal work through online forms. In every case, upload or bring the same documentation you would give the police. Agencies coordinate more readily when the evidence packages match.
Protection Orders When You Know the Person
If you know who’s surveilling you, a civil protection order can legally bar them from continuing. Most states let stalking victims petition for one even when the respondent isn’t a family or household member. The court can prohibit the person from monitoring you, contacting you, or coming within a specified distance. Violating the order is a separate criminal offense that carries mandatory jail time in many jurisdictions.
You file the petition with your local court, describing the surveillance conduct and explaining why it makes you fear for your safety. Judges typically evaluate petitions on whether the evidence shows a pattern of behavior that would cause a reasonable person to feel threatened. A police report strengthens the petition considerably, which is another reason to file one even if you’re unsure whether criminal charges will follow.
Under the Violence Against Women Act, courts cannot charge filing fees for protection orders related to stalking, sexual assault, or domestic violence. The waiver covers filing, issuance, registration, and service. Some states may still charge fees for general civil harassment orders that don’t fall within those categories, but if your petition describes stalking conduct, the fee should be waived.
After You File
Investigations take time and don’t always end in an arrest. Law enforcement reviews your evidence to decide whether there are grounds to move forward. An investigator may contact you for additional details or ask you to keep logging incidents while the case develops.
Use your case number to check on progress periodically. Be persistent but realistic. Cases involving digital evidence often require forensic analysis that takes weeks or months. Cases with a known suspect and physical evidence tend to move faster, especially when a protection order violation is involved.
Separately from any criminal case, you may be able to sue for invasion of privacy. Civil claims can produce monetary damages even when prosecutors decline to file criminal charges, and the burden of proof is lower. An attorney experienced in privacy law can evaluate whether your evidence supports a civil case and what damages you might recover. Many privacy attorneys offer free initial consultations and work on contingency for strong cases.