Is it legal to record a phone call? One-party vs all-party consent

The short answer to “can I record this call?” is: it depends where you are. Most places fall into one of two legal frameworks, and knowing which one applies to you is the whole game.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and edge cases exist — confirm the current rule for your jurisdiction before you record.

One-party consent

In a one-party consent jurisdiction, you can record a conversation as long as you are part of it — your own consent is enough. You don’t have to tell the other person. Many US states and a number of countries use this standard.

All-party (two-party) consent

In an all-party consent jurisdiction — often called “two-party” even when there are more than two people — everyone on the call must agree to be recorded. Recording without that agreement can be illegal, even when you are an active participant in the conversation.

What if people are in different places?

This is where it gets tricky. When participants are in different states or countries with different rules, the stricter rule often governs, and it isn’t always obvious which law applies. The safe habit is simple: when in doubt, ask for consent at the start of the call.

To see the rule for a specific country or US state — with sources and a last-reviewed date — use our recording-laws checker.