Is it legal to record a call in Canada?
In Canada, recording phone calls generally follows One-party consent. Here's what that means in plain language — with the source and what you can and can't do.
Generally allowed One-party
If you are part of the conversation, you may record it without informing the other person. Recording calls you are NOT part of, or sharing recordings publicly to harm someone, can still be unlawful. Individuals may record if they are a party; organizations should notify purpose.
- Record calls you take part in, for your own records.
- Don't secretly record conversations between other people.
- Don't publish or share a recording to harm someone.
⚖ Informational only — not legal advice. This data may be out of date and laws change often — always verify your country's current legislation (tap the source link above) before recording, and consult a qualified lawyer for your specific case.
Backed by a real court ruling
Case law
R. v. Duarte — Supreme Court of Canada, 1990
Constrains state/police participant surveillance under the Charter; private citizens' one-party consent instead comes from Criminal Code s.184(2).
Read the ruling →More places with One-party rules
Frequently asked
Is it legal to record phone calls in Canada?
Generally allowed. If you are part of the conversation, you may record it without informing the other person. Recording calls you are NOT part of, or sharing recordings publicly to harm someone, can still be unlawful. Individuals may record if they are a party; organizations should notify purpose.
Do I need the other person's consent to record a call in Canada?
If you are part of the conversation, you may record it without informing the other person. Recording calls you are NOT part of, or sharing recordings publicly to harm someone, can still be unlawful.
Keep a record of your calls.
Klear can record calls on supported Android devices. Before recording, check the rules that apply to your call and get consent when required.