Can you record a phone call in Georgia?
One person on the call can record it, and that can be you. Georgia's one-party rule covers sound only: secretly filming people in a private place needs everyone's consent.
- Phone calls
- Official Code of Georgia 16-11-62 bans secret eavesdropping and surveillance, but section 16-11-66(a) says it does not stop a person from intercepting a wire, oral or electronic communication when that person is a party or one party gave prior consent. The Georgia Supreme Court confirmed in State v. Cohen (2017) that this covers sound, not video.
- Business calls
- Georgia's recording law does not require a beep or announcement when you or your staff take part in the call. To record calls the business is not on, get one participant's agreement first. Filming people in a private place, out of public view, needs everyone's consent. Tell callers in all-party states such as California at the start.
- What counts as consent
- Your own consent as a participant is enough for audio, with no announcement needed. Courts have found consent implied where callers were told calls are recorded, as with jail phone systems. For video in private places, every person filmed must agree.
- Penalties
- Violations are felonies: 1-5 years in prison, a fine up to $10,000, or both. The statutes list no civil damages, but a federal court has said people recorded without any consent can sue.
Say this at the start
Telling everyone and asking is the safe habit everywhere.
- English
Before we start: I record my calls so I can keep accurate notes. Is that OK with you?
Worth knowing
- The all-party rule applies only to video or photos of people in a private place out of public view (16-11-62(2)). For sound, including calls, one party's consent is enough.
- If the other person is in an all-party state such as California, that state's law can apply to your call (Kearney v. Salomon Smith Barney, California Supreme Court, 2006).
Sources
Checked on 14 October 2026. A plain summary of the law, not legal advice.
- Supreme Court of Georgia: State v. Cohen, S17A1265 (2 November 2017)court
- 18 U.S.C. 2511, federal Wiretap Act (US Code on govinfo.gov)statute
- Georgia Code 16-11-66, Interception by a party to the communication (Justia, 2025)guide
- Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press: Georgia recording guideguide
- Wikipedia: Telephone call recording lawsguide
Other states
More free tools
Questions
Is Georgia a one-party consent state?
Yes. One person on the call can record it, and that can be you. Georgia's one-party rule covers sound only: secretly filming people in a private place needs everyone's consent.
Can a business record calls in Georgia?
Georgia's recording law does not require a beep or announcement when you or your staff take part in the call. To record calls the business is not on, get one participant's agreement first. Filming people in a private place, out of public view, needs everyone's consent. Tell callers in all-party states such as California at the start.
What counts as consent in Georgia?
Your own consent as a participant is enough for audio, with no announcement needed. Courts have found consent implied where callers were told calls are recorded, as with jail phone systems. For video in private places, every person filmed must agree.
What happens if you record a call illegally in Georgia?
Violations are felonies: 1-5 years in prison, a fine up to $10,000, or both. The statutes list no civil damages, but a federal court has said people recorded without any consent can sue.
Hang up. The notes are done.
Superscribe records your business calls on the number you already have and writes the note when you hang up. You say one line at the start, and it does the rest.
