Can You Record a Conversation in Illinois?

No, you generally cannot record a private conversation in Illinois without the consent of all parties involved. Illinois is a two-party consent state, meaning everyone participating in the conversation must agree to the recording. Secretly recording a private conversation without consent is considered illegal under Illinois law and may lead to criminal or civil penalties.

Illinois follows the Illinois eavesdropping law, which is one of the strictest in the United States. Under 720 ILCS 5/14-2, recording a private conversation without the explicit consent of all parties is illegal—even if you are one of the people involved in the conversation.

This law applies to:

In-person conversations
Phone calls
Electronic communications (e.g., Zoom, Skype, Google Meet)

Failure to comply with this law may result in felony charges, fines, or even jail time.

What Counts as a Private Conversation in Illinois?

A “private conversation” in Illinois is any communication in which one or more participants have a reasonable expectation of privacy. This includes:

Personal phone calls
Private office meetings
Casual in-person chats at home or in a quiet setting

However, public conversations (e.g., on a crowded street or in a loud restaurant) where no expectation of privacy exists may not fall under this law.

There are a few exceptions where recording may be legal, including:

Public events where privacy is not expected
Law enforcement recordings conducted with a warrant or legal authorization
Security surveillance with posted warnings (though audio is still restricted)

But in most personal or professional scenarios, you must obtain clear, informed consent from all parties before hitting “record.”

Can You Use AI Tools Like VOMO to Record Conversations in Illinois?

Yes, you can use AI note-taking tools like VOMO, but only after obtaining consent from everyone involved in the conversation. Once consent is granted, VOMO can help you:

Record audio clearly
Transcribe conversations with speech to text
Generate AI meeting notes for easy review
Support multiple languages and platforms

This makes VOMO a legal and efficient option—only when used within Illinois’ consent laws.

What Happens If You Record Someone Illegally in Illinois?

Illegally recording someone in Illinois is a Class 4 felony under the state’s eavesdropping statute. Penalties may include:

Fines up to $25,000
Up to 3 years in prison
Civil lawsuits from the recorded party

Always make sure to get explicit permission from everyone involved before using any recording device or app.

Best Practices for Recording Conversations in Illinois

To record conversations legally in Illinois, follow these best practices:

✅ Always ask for and receive written or verbal consent from all parties
✅ Inform participants when you’re using a recording or AI note-taking app like VOMO
✅ Use disclaimers if you’re in a business or educational setting
✅ Avoid recording in situations with unclear expectations of privacy
✅ When in doubt, don’t record—or consult a legal advisor

Final Thoughts: Recording Legally in Illinois

So, can you record a conversation in Illinois? Only with everyone’s permission. As a two-party (or all-party) consent state, Illinois requires all participants to agree to any form of recording, including phone calls, meetings, and lectures. With proper consent, tools like VOMO can help you convert spoken content into accurate speech-to-text transcriptions and AI-generated meeting notes, while staying fully compliant with state law.

If you’d like to learn about U.S. federal or other state-specific recording laws, we have a comprehensive guide available here.

Need to record in another state?
👉 Check out our comprehensive guide to U.S. federal and state recording laws.

Can You Record a Conversation in Illinois?