As technology advances and police departments use more and more recording devices as part of their everyday duties, this case will serve as an important guidepost for when such devices may be used without a warrant. In short, this case will provide strong legal support for police officers to be able to use recording devices without a warrant in situations where the officers already have a legal right to be in the location being recorded.
Advancements in technology have allowed small, compact, sometimes hidden audio recorders to become incredibly prevalent. These small audio recorders can now hold hours of audio on a small memory card instead of unruly tape recording, making them a great solution for everything from recording lectures at school and business meetings; to obtaining information on a cheating spouse or unscrupulous employee. In addition to voice recorders, secret recording devices are available for telephone equipment as well – allowing you to monitor and keep a log of all conversations on business and home phones.
It is legal for a person to record a wire, oral or electronic communication if that person is a party to the communication, or if one of the parties has consented to the recording, so long as no criminal or tortious intent accompanies the recording.
Somewhat surprisingly, the rules regarding video recording are in fact different from the rules that apply to voice and telephone recording. Strangely enough, the federal and state wiretapping laws only protect the interception of oral communication like voice-activated recorders and phone tap systems. The statute does not ban video recordings.
The Bottom Line, you may record phone conversations in which you are a party to, however it is illegal to record conversations had by others without consent of at least one party. When it comes to cellular and smart phones, whether you can legally access the contents is largely dependent upon the authorization of the owner.
There are no national statistics on how frequently such secret recordings take place, but smartphones and other pocket-sized devices have given employees and employers a powerful tool to easily record playbacks of sensitive workplace conversations which are legal in some states and illegal in others. The recordings can be used in court or administrative hearings–or subject the parties involved to public criticism. Many cases involve disciplinary proceedings or union organizing.
Secret Recording Devices like the Fitness Tracker Voice Recorder is a voice recorder will fit in anywhere. Designed to look like a normal fitness tracker, you can wear this right on your wrist and record everything around without drawing any attention at all. Let it record all day with it’s long battery life of up to 20 hours.
The simple single button operation makes this device the easiest way to start recording covert audio anywhere, anytime. The removable band also means you can take the main recorder and fit it in to even the smallest of spaces.
Most researchers use audio recordings for individual interviews as a way to capture what is said during the interview. In most cases, these types of interviews do not qualify for exemption and it is necessary for you to obtain consent (and assent where appropriate) to use an audio recording device. In the protocol form, you need to explain what you will record and justify the necessity for using an audio recorder.
Look for an audio recorder app that provides an audio sensitivity adjustment to help match your audio signal to the device. Alternatively, use an external preamp or mixer to do the matching. As a last resort, consider using microphone placement to compensate for audio levels. Many mobile devices have hardwired Automatic Gain Control or AGC circuits. There may be no getting around it, so do a couple of test recordings and make adjustments for the best compromised settings.
Regardless of the hardware or software you choose, there are several things that will help you capture and deliver the best possible recordings from your audio recording devices. Don’t rely on the built-in microphone or even the included microphone preamp in your mobile device. While some are pretty good, an external preamp will be much better if you can use one.
New Products | |
Top Featured Products | |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Be assured that your shopping experience is completely safe. The order site is secured using a Thawte SSL Web Server Certificate which encrypts all data to and from the site. However, if you prefer to pay with check or money order, just choose the off-line option when you check out. |
![]() |