Call Recording Compliance
Call recording laws vary by jurisdiction. Convirza provides the tools and controls you need to record calls compliantly - but it is your responsibility as a customer to understand and follow the laws that apply to your business and the states or countries where your calls originate and terminate.
Federal Law (United States)
The federal Wiretap Act (18 U.S.C. § 2511) requires the consent of at least one party to a telephone conversation before recording. This is known as one-party consent. Under federal law, a business may record calls to which it is a party without notifying the other participants, as long as the recording is not for an illegal purpose.
State Laws
Many states impose stricter requirements than federal law. Several US states require consent from every party on the call (all-party or two-party consent), meaning every participant must be informed and consent before recording begins. These include:
- California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington
The strictest applicable law typically governs. If any party to the call is in a two-party consent state, you should obtain consent from all parties regardless of where your business is located. Confirm your obligations with counsel.
How Convirza Helps
Convirza provides configurable compliance controls including:
- Automatic disclosure - consent disclaimers play automatically on recorded calls
- Configurable retention - retention periods are set by account
- Audit logs - access and sensitive actions are logged and available to account administrators
International Considerations
Outside the United States, call recording laws vary widely. The European Union's GDPR generally requires a lawful basis for processing call recordings - typically explicit consent or legitimate interest with appropriate safeguards. Canada's PIPEDA and other regional frameworks impose similar requirements. If you operate internationally, consult local legal counsel.