Hidden camera - Definition and Overview

Hidden cameras are still or video cameras that film people without their knowledge. Common uses include security cameras in stores and banks.

A hidden camera is also a television program is related to so-called "reality shows". The producers use hidden cameras to catch unsuspecting people in unusual or absurd situations. This genre began in the 1950s with Candid Camera, and recent examples include Spy TV, Punk'd, and The Jamie Kennedy Experiment. Unlike reality television, in which the participants know they are being filmed and agree in advance, "hidden camera" programs are built around unwitting participants.

Some hidden camera shows have led to lawsuits by people who were trapped in set-ups they found unpleasant.