Policy
Responsible use
Virtual cameras are a normal, mainstream tool. Deceiving the person on the other end is not. This page is where we put the line in writing.
What it is for
- Working and calling normally when your webcam is broken or missing.
- Keeping your home and background private while staying present on camera.
- Using the best camera you own — your phone — with sites that only listen to a webcam.
What it is not for
- Impersonating anyone — a virtual feed must never be used to pretend to be another person or to fake a live presence to deceive.
- Evading proctoring or identity checks — exams, KYC, verification interviews. We do not design for it, we do not write guides about it, and we will not add features whose purpose is evasion.
- Breaking a site’s rules — many services ban camera fakery in their terms. If a community says no virtual cameras, respect that.
Why we show an on-page marker
While a feed is active, a small marker stays on the page. Some users ask for a “clean” mode without it. We say no on purpose: video calls work because both sides can tell what is real. A tool that hides itself from the human on the other end is a deception tool, whatever the marketing calls it.
Exams and assessments
To be explicit, since this question comes up often: VirtualCam must not be used to circumvent exam proctoring or assessment monitoring. Proctoring software usually detects virtual cameras anyway, and getting flagged for misconduct follows you much longer than one test score.
If you are unsure
Ask yourself one question: would the other person feel deceived if they knew? If yes, do not do it. If you have a use case you think is legitimate but unusual, write to us — we answer honestly, including saying no.