Legality of recording calls in the USA

Both Federal and State Laws apply to the recording and monitoring of calls in the USA.

The relevant Federal Law,  18 USC Sec 2511, allows a person “…..to intercept a wire, oral, or electronic communication, where such person is a party to the communication or one of the parties to the communication has given prior consent to such interception”. However, State Laws can restrict this further.

Summaries of State by State legislation is provided by many websites, including The American Civil Liberties Union.

In addition, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press has some information on recording calls from a journalistic standpoint.