Guide
Is it legal to record a work meeting?
It depends on where you are and who is on the call, and the honest answer is that you have to check the rules that apply to you. Broadly, some places allow recording as long as one person on the call knows (that can be you), and others require everyone to consent. The first is often called one-party consent, the second all-party or two-party consent.
On top of the law, your employer may have its own policy, and the other people may have a reasonable expectation that the conversation is private. When in doubt, the safe move is to tell people you are recording and get a clear yes.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Recording law is specific to where you are, and it changes. If a recording matters, check the rules that apply to you or ask someone qualified.
The two common models
Most consent rules fall into one of two shapes. Under one-party consent, a recording is allowed as long as one person taking part agrees to it, and that person can be you. Under all-party consent, sometimes called two-party consent, everyone in the conversation has to agree before you can record.
Which model applies depends on your location, and sometimes on the other person’s. When people on a call are in different places, more than one set of rules can apply at once, and the safest assumption is the stricter one.
The law is not the only thing
Even where recording is legal, two other things can still catch you out.
The first is your employer’s policy. Many organisations have their own rules about recording internal meetings, separate from the law, and breaking a policy can be a problem even if nothing illegal happened.
The second is expectation and trust. People generally assume a work conversation is not being recorded. Recording without telling them, even where you are allowed to, can damage a working relationship in a way the law has nothing to say about.
The safe default
When you are unsure, the clean approach is simple. Tell people you would like to record and why, and get a clear yes before you start. It removes the legal grey area, respects the people on the call, and almost never causes a problem in practice.
If you cannot ask, or you are not sure the answer would be yes, treat that as a signal to check the specific rules before recording rather than after.
What to check before you record
- The consent rules for everyone’s location, not just your own.
- Your employer’s or institution’s policy on recording meetings.
- Whether the platform’s own recording notice is enough, or whether you should ask directly.
- For anything sensitive, whether recording is the right call at all.
FAQ
What is the difference between one-party and all-party consent?
Under one-party consent, a recording is allowed if at least one participant (which can be you) agrees to it. Under all-party consent, everyone on the call has to agree. Which one applies depends on your location and sometimes the other person’s.
Does it matter that the call crosses regions?
It can. If people are in different places, more than one set of rules may apply, and the stricter one is the safer assumption. This is one reason simply asking for consent is the cleanest approach.
Is a hidden recording ever a problem even where it is legal?
Possibly. Legality and workplace policy are different things, and so is trust. Even where the law permits it, recording people without telling them can breach an employer policy or damage a working relationship.
What should I actually do before recording a work meeting?
Check the consent rules for everyone’s location, check your employer’s policy, and when unsure, tell people and get a clear yes. This page is general information, not legal advice.
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- Where your audio goes: What most cloud notetakers do with your meeting audio, and the on-device alternative.
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