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From: michels@tramp.Colorado.EDU (MICHELS DAVID)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Recording Phone Calls
Message-ID: <72174@bu.edu.bu.edu>
Date: 13 Jan 91 02:07:25 GMT
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Reply-To: michels@tramp.Colorado.EDU (MICHELS DAVID)
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 31, Message 7 of 10


It used to be, when answering machines were first becoming popular,
that the conversation recording feature always put out a tone every
few seconds. Not anymore, now many of them seem to provide silent
recording. Have the laws or just ethics changed?

Is recording of telephone conversations legal, or is it required to
notify all participants involved before-hand? I would assume recording
for 'personal use' is legal, just as it is legal to record TV shows
and copy software. But that's just a hunch, anybody know the real
answer or how to find out??


[Moderator's Note: State laws vary. Check yours with an attorney. The
tone signal was/is a convenient way not to 'forget' to notify the
other party ... but merely notice is required; not any specific kind
of notice. It is adequate to announce (on the recording itself at the
start of the call) that you are recording it, and record the other
person's assent to what you are doing.   PAT]