Call Recording Laws in Minnesota 2025
Last Updated: February 17, 2025
Minnesota is a one-party consent state. This means that if you are an active participant in a conversation, your consent alone is sufficient to legally record the call. In this guide, we review Minnesota’s key call recording laws, outline potential penalties for non-compliance, and provide practical tips to help you ensure your recordings meet legal standards.
Overview of Minnesota Call Recording Law
Under Minnesota law, as defined in statutes like Minnesota Statutes Section 626A.02, it is legal to record a conversation if you are a participant. The one-party consent rule aims to balance the need for recording communications with the privacy rights of individuals.
Is It Legal to Record a Call in Minnesota?
Yes. Recording a call in Minnesota is legal provided you are an active participant in the conversation. Your own consent authorizes the recording, and you do not need to notify the other parties. However, recording a conversation in which you are not involved is prohibited and may result in legal consequences.
Minnesota One-Party Consent
Minnesota operates under a one-party consent policy. This means that as long as you are involved in the conversation, your consent alone is enough to make the recording lawful. Ensure that you are a party to the communication you intend to record.
Penalties for Illegal Recording in Minnesota
Violating Minnesota’s call recording laws can result in severe legal consequences. Unauthorized recording—especially when you are not a participant—can lead to criminal charges, substantial fines, and potentially imprisonment. Additionally, affected individuals may pursue civil lawsuits for damages if their privacy rights have been infringed.
Federal vs. Minnesota Law
Although federal law under 18 U.S.C. § 2511 permits one-party consent for recording communications, Minnesota law governs recordings made within the state. If any party is located in Minnesota, you must follow Minnesota’s one-party consent standard to ensure full legal compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Minnesota a one-party consent state?
Yes. In Minnesota, if you are an active participant in the conversation, your consent is sufficient to legally record the call.
Can I record calls in Minnesota without informing the other party?
Yes, provided you are part of the conversation. Recording calls in which you are not involved is illegal under Minnesota law.
What happens if I illegally record someone in Minnesota?
Illegal recording in Minnesota can lead to criminal charges, fines, imprisonment, and civil lawsuits for invasion of privacy.
How do Minnesota laws interact with federal recording laws?
While federal law permits one-party consent, Minnesota law governs recordings within the state. It is important to adhere to Minnesota’s legal standards when any participant is located in Minnesota.
Additional Resources
For further details, refer to Minnesota Statutes Section 626A.02 or visit our Call Recording Laws by State guide.
The information in this article is intended as a general guide and should not be taken as legal advice. For legal advice, please consult a lawyer.
About Chatwarden
Chatwarden is a set-it-and-forget-it call monitoring tool for small business and contractor owners who want to keep an eye on customer support calls without having to listen to them all.
Here’s how it works:
- You connect Chatwarden to your existing phone system.
- You upload any call-handling instructions or SOPs you want your team to follow.
- Chatwarden checks each call for obvious issues like missed calls, poor sound quality, and dropped calls.
- Chatwarden also checks for less obvious issues: Did your team help the customer? Did they give the correct info? Did they follow SOPs?
- You get a breakdown for each call showing what your team does well and where they can improve.
- If Chatwarden spots a critical issue (like a manager request or an upset customer) you get an email alert immediately.
Learn more at www.chatwarden.com