Fact · Voice privacy and security
11states
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press says about 11 US states primarily require the consent of all parties before a conversation is recorded.
Checked against its source on October 17, 2026
In the source's own words
“About 11 states primarily have all-party consent requirements for recording.”
Introduction to the Reporters Committee Recording Guide, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, n.d., Introduction.
Open the original- What it measures
- The guide's introduction explains that one-party consent is the federal minimum, and that some states require every party to consent. It names California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Washington.
- What it does not show
- The word 'primarily' matters: the guide notes that Michigan's rule applies at least to recordings made by a third party, and that some states differ by type of conversation. The count is a summary, so check each state's statute.