Is Recording Conversations Without Consent Legal?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Pengwuino
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the legality of recording conversations without consent, particularly in the context of a workplace incident involving threats. Participants explore the implications of recording conversations for legal evidence and the practicality of different recording devices.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the legality of recording a conversation without consent, particularly in a situation involving threats in the workplace.
  • Another participant asserts that recording is permissible as long as it is not done over phone lines, referencing historical events like Watergate.
  • There is a discussion about the best devices for recording conversations, with suggestions for a pen-mic recorder and a small voice-activated recorder.
  • One participant argues that the recording device needs to be portable and discreet enough to be used in the office setting.
  • Another participant mentions that in many states, threats may not constitute a crime, suggesting that obtaining a personal protection order (PPO) might be a more effective course of action.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the legality of recording conversations without consent, and there is no consensus on the best approach to take in the situation described.

Contextual Notes

Participants do not clarify specific legal statutes or the implications of state laws regarding recording conversations, leaving some assumptions unaddressed.

Pengwuino
Gold Member
Messages
5,112
Reaction score
20
Does anyone know if recording a conversation with someone in a room is illegal? My mother's boss openly threatened another woman in the office (wow these women are evil!) and i was wondering if it would be legal to try to record the conversation and send it to the police? Its obviously not enough to say "hey she threatened me" because it would be 'her word vs her word' so i was wondering if maybe the woman could go up to her again and record the conversation and see if she's threatened and record it.
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
Yes you can, as long as its not over the phone lines. Remember Watergate?
 
Too young :D

What would be the best device to record her conversation? I saw this interesting pen-mic recorder for like $250 that's 36db and can "pick up a conversation up to 10' away".
 
I'd just use a small, voice activated recorder. Might find one for less then 40 bucks, and better ones for 100. And just leave it on the table/desk. Some times things are best hidden in plain sight.
 
Naa, that won't work. It need sot be something she can bring in with her and leave with. She'd have to be going into her office for the conversation.
 
Then go with the pen.
Sadly in most states, threating to harm someone is not a crime. It might be enough to get a PPO against them. It would be better to take this information to the company owner.
 

Similar threads

Current and Future AI Threats to Humanity and the Human Response
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
6K
News Is Recording Police Interactions a Felony?
  • · Replies 116 ·
4
Replies
116
Views
22K
What to Do if You Encounter a Possible Psychopath? Report?
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
4K
Admissions Could I please get critique on my SOP? (Experimental Biophysics)
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Things We Wouldn't Know Without Movies
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
8K
Is it okay to cheat on a spouse that has Alzheimer's?
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
14K
Graduate Pliers, pulsars and extreme physics
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
The Scientist as Hero - or not
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
Why is it such a boom to see a bum?
  • · Replies 36 ·
2
Replies
36
Views
7K
Today's Fashions or the Lack Thereof
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K