Is it unlawful to tape, in a Yahoo, chat room?

Question

We have a woman in a chat room that tapes all day and night, even when shes not present, & replays them,, It must be her sickness.

Answer 1

I WOULDN'T THINK SO SEEING AS IT IS A PUBLIC FORUM AND ITS USERS HAVE NO EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY.

Answer 2

Oooooooh this is a really good legal theory question. First of all let me start by saying I don't know. Having said that let me give you my opinion. As far as I know there are no statutes in any state or at the federal level prohibiting this and I don't believe there are any judicial precedents either. Which means 1. it is not illegal and 2. that if this is done and the recording is attempted to be used in court as evidence then both parties are going to argue why it should or shouldn't be allowed and the judge will make a determination most likely based off of presented arguments and precedents from other cases where tape recordings were involved ergo creating precedent in this type of situation which could eventually lead to legislation. One thing the recorder of the conversation would have on his side is the whole public forum and no expectation of privacy that another answerer mentioned. If someone tried to sue based on invasion of privacy or some such nonsense that would be a really good argument.

Hope this helps! :)

Answer 3

Might vary from country to country.

In the UK it USED to be a legal requirement to declare if you were recording a conversation however things have changed.

Proviing at least ONE party in the conversation (you:?) is aware that the conversation is being recorded, the recording IS permitted.

LOL we don't have to have the little "blip" on the answering machine when it is used to record a conversation anymore :)

Answer 4

Remember Linda Tripp? I believe that you have to inform the other person first.