Recording law · United States
Can I record a call in New York?
Yes, if you are part of the conversation. New York is a one-party consent state: a participant may record their own call.
One-party consent A person who takes part in the conversation may record it without the others agreeing.
General information, not legal advice. Last reviewed October 2026. Laws change and facts differ; check before you rely on any line here, and ask a lawyer licensed where you record for anything that matters.
Is New York a one-party or all-party consent state?
One-party consent. A person who takes part in the conversation may record it without the others agreeing.
- The offence is recording a conversation you are not part of, without the consent of at least one party.
- Your own consent as a participant is enough under New York law.
- Workplace policy, professional rules and contracts can still require notice. Lawyers, clinicians and regulated firms should check their own rules.
Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 2511(2)(d)) allows a participant to record unless the recording is made to commit a crime or a tort. State law can ask for more.
The law
- New York Penal Law § 250.00 (definitions)
- New York Penal Law § 250.05 (eavesdropping)
Recording a conversation with no party consenting is a felony.
When the others are somewhere else
The rule protects you only for the New York end. If anyone on the call may be in an all-party state such as California, Florida or Pennsylvania, announce the recording. Video meetings are treated like phone calls, and the strictest rule that applies to anyone on the call is the one to follow.
Do I have to tell people I'm recording a call in New York?
Not if you take part in the call: the recording law in New York lets a participant record without telling the others. If anyone on the call may be somewhere stricter, say it at the start and get their agreement.
“Quick note before we start: I’m recording and transcribing this meeting on my own machine for my notes. It isn’t shared with anyone unless I send it to you. Let me know if you’d rather I didn’t.”
How Recordist fits
- One-party consent covers only conversations you take part in. Recordist records whatever your microphone picks up and whatever plays through your computer's sound output, so it can also record a call or a room you aren't part of, and that needs the consent the law sets for it. No bot joins the call.
- By default it asks before it records a call. A detected call is recorded only after you click Record, unless you add that app to Record without asking for in Settings → Detection or allow agents to start recordings in Settings → Integrations; both are off by default. The confirm card shows a one-line reminder that consent is your responsibility, so keep the sentence above to hand.
- The notice is still yours to give. Software cannot give consent for the other people. Tell them when anyone may be somewhere stricter.