A Look at Audio Recording Devices

Nov 9
13:47

2010

Andrew Stratton

Andrew Stratton

  • Share this article on Facebook
  • Share this article on Twitter
  • Share this article on Linkedin

Audio recording devices are getting more elaborate and sneakier all of the time. While they can be used for a variety of purposes they are often used to try to trap those who allegedly have been the instigators of wrongdoings. Here we take at these recording tools.

mediaimage
Audio recording devices have come to play a big a role in the world of safety and surveillance as have video cameras and other forms of surveillance technology. Businesses often use these devices if they have reason to believe that they have an employee on staff who is stealing merchandise,A Look at Audio Recording Devices Articles treating customers badly or if they believe that the individual is doing something other than working during the hours that they are on the clock.

Private investigators are another group that routinely makes use of audio recording devices. For example, a married individual may hire an investigator to find out if their spouse is having an extramarital affair. Investigators who work privately for citizens and/or businesses may also be hired to work other types of cases as well and may use these devices to help uncover evidence.

Audio recording devices can work for the good and for the bad, depending on the circumstances under which they are put to use. The idea of being spied on and not being able to speak freely without being recorded is a concern for many that is justified. As a result of this devices that are used to record conversations have their share of critics and have been met with plenty of scrutiny since they came into use.

These instruments to record voices and sound are becoming more sophisticated all of the time. They are also becoming smaller in size and often go undetected by many people. For instance, during a conversation on a cell phone or a land line knowing that your conversation is being recorded is not easy to pick out. If it was then the audio instrument would not be doing its job very well.

Taping phone conversations can be very beneficial in terms of investigations in the criminal realm as well as in the corporate world, such as in cases of suspected fraud or money laundering. It can also come in handy if a company believes that a worker is not conducting themselves appropriately.

What does the law have to say about these devices to record sounds and voices? The laws regarding audio recording devices are not exactly straightforward or clear. In fact it would be safe to call them a little ambiguous and murky. In the United States there are laws in place to protect citizens from anything that can be used to incriminate them in any way. After all we generally do not worry that anyone will be recording what we say in conversation with others over the phone or in face-to-face communication with other people in our homes, our offices or while out in public places.

There are state laws and federal laws in place to make sure that no one is taped in an attempt to get them to say something that can cause them to be arrested or charged with a crime. The Electronic Communications Privacy Act was the very first act created to protect against illegally recording anyone’s conversations. Most states have laws that follow the statute set down on a federal level in terms of the use of audio recording devices. At present there are 37 states that deem it a requirement for at least one party to agree to have their verbal communication recorded for whatever purpose.