A video camera and microphone associated with a telecommunications terminal are used to gather information about the environment in the vicinity of the telecommunications terminal. Such information includes, but is not limited to: (i) how many people are in the environment, (ii) which specific people are in the environment, (iii) if the environment is dark, (iv) if the environment is quiet, and (v) if the environment comprises human speech. When a specific person is associated with the telecommunications terminal and a request arrives to establish a telephone call with that person, then the information about the environment can be used to decide whether: (1) to transmit the call to the telecommunications terminal, or (2) forward the call away from the telecommunications terminal.