( CNN ) -- A photo of a listening device in a room where attorneys met with terror detainees at Guantanamo Bay caused a stir this month , but a senior military official says it is a relic from the days when interrogations occurred in the facility . A military judge hearing the case against the September 11 , 2001 , terror mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others ordered the photo released earlier this month . The device baffled defense lawyers who speak with their Guantanamo clients in the room where the device , which looks like a smoke detector , was hanging . One of the top military lawyers for the Gitmo detention facility said he looked into the matter and found no one was listening in on privileged conversations , The Miami Herald reported . A top U.S. commander , who oversees the detention camp and U.S. military operations in the base in southeast Cuba , confirmed the device is not being used to listen into attorney-client conversations . But a video camera in the units watches the conversations . `` Years ago , that particular facility was used for another purpose , and that purpose required not only audio devices , but visual devices , '' Gen. John Kelly , commander of the U.S. southern command , told a Senate panel . `` It was not used for attorney-client rooms . The mission down there has morphed over time , so the room that they were using for attorney-client discussions still had equipment . But that equipment was not energized , it was not used and I can tell you that without question , we have not violated their rights by listening in , '' Kelly said Wednesday . He said the audio portions of the devices were removed this week , but the video part of the mechanism will remain . `` Some of these men , arguably are dangerous , '' Kelly said in response to a question of why the video cameras would remain . `` And although you would think that their defense attorneys would be safe , I have a responsibility to protect the defense attorneys , as well , as I do the ICRC ( International Committee of the Red Cross ) that visits and the 5,700 non-DOD people that have visited Guantanamo since the beginning , '' he said . `` They were n't listened to . Yes , the video devices will remain -- temporarily , at least , and the attorneys will understand that , '' he told the Senate panel inquiring about the devices .
The device baffled defense lawyers at Guantanamo . Military Intelligence said no one was listening to privileged conversations . A top U.S. commander says the device is used to watch what happens , but not how .