eavesdropping on telephone conversation

hepsee993

Does anyone know - is it legal for someone to "listen in" to a private telephone conversation without the knowlege or permission of one or other party?

Is there any legislation which covers this?

scullster

Depends...............

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/oftel/consumer/advice/faqs/prvfaq3.htm

Why do you ask?

Anihilator

It's a very dodgy subject. The authorities dont use much (if any at all) phone tap evidence for these reasons.

montyrebel

so pretty much you suspect your other half is cheating and you want to catch them at it??

The_Pedant

It also depends if this is at home, or at work.

Generally in the home, I believe that any interception of a call would fall foul of the Interception of Communications Act 1985.
You do have the right to record your own calls provided they are not disclosed to anyone, but not the calls of anyone else.

In the workplace, monitoring/recording can take place but the employer must inform you this is taking place (usually in employment handbook, or policies). Some personal calls are usually allowed and the employer must not listen to any call as soon as it is apparent that it is a personal call.