WHAT RULES DO I HAVE TO FOLLOW TO RECORD THE CONVERSATIONS ON MY MD (UK Specific)

THE BELOW INFORMATION ARE THE UK GUIDLINES FOR VOICE RECORDING WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND SHOULD BE READ IF CALL INTRUSION OR CALL RECORDING IS TO BE SET UP ON EXTERNAL INCOMMING CALLERS LINES.


Call recording and monitoring Information taken from OFTEL webite 26th April 2002.


Recording and monitoring telephone calls or e-mails

A general overview of interception, recording and monitoring of communications

The interception, recording and monitoring of telephone calls is governed by a number of different
pieces of UK legislation. The requirements of all relevant legislation must be complied with.
The main ones are:


Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 ("RIPA")
Telecommunications (Lawful Business Practice)(Interception of Communications) Regulations 2000
("LBP Regulations")
Data Protection Act 1998
Telecommunications (Data Protection and Privacy) Regulations 1999
Human Rights Act 1998

It is not possible to provide comprehensive detail of that legislation here. Any person considering
interception, recording or monitoring of telephone calls or e-mails is strongly advised to seek
his/her own independent legal advice and should not seek to rely on the general information provided
below. It should be borne in mind that criminal offences and civil actions may occur when the relevant
legislation is not complied with. Accordingly, Oftel accepts no liability for reliance by any person
on the following information.



Can I record telephone conversations on my home phone?

Yes. The relevant law, RIPA, does not prohibit individuals from recording their own communications provided that the
recording is for their own use. Recording or monitoring are only prohibited where some of the contents
of the communication - which can be a phone conversation or an e-mail - are made available to a third
party, ie someone who was neither the caller or sender nor the intended recipient of the original
communication. For further information see the Home Office website where RIPA is posted.



Do I have to let people know that I intend to record their telephone conversations with me?


No, provided you are not intending to make the contents of the communication available to a third party.
If you are you will need the consent of the person you are recording.




Can a business or other organisation record or monitor my phone calls or e-mail correspondence with
them?

Yes they can, but only in a limited set of circumstances relevant for that business which have been
defined by the LBP Regulations. The main ones are:


to provide evidence of a business transaction
to ensure that a business complies with regulatory procedures
to see that quality standards or targets are being met in the interests of national security
to prevent or detect crime to investigate the unauthorised use of a telecom system
to secure the effective operation of the telecom system.

In addition, businesses can monitor, but not record, phone calls or e-mails that have been received to
see whether they are relevant to the business (ie open an employee's voicemail or mailbox systems while
they are away to see if there are any business communications stored there). For further information
see the DTI website where the LBP Regulations are posted.

However any interception of employees' communications must be proportionate and in accordance with
Data Protection principles. The Data Protection Commissioner is consulting on a Code of Practice on
The use of personal data in employer/employee relationships. It is proposed that where the standards
in the Code of Practice are, in the Commissioner's opinion, necessary for compliance with the Data
Protection Act 1998 they may be directly enforceable as a breach of the Data Protection principles.
Accordingly this Code of Practice and the Data Protection Act must also be considered by any business
before it intercepts employees' communications. For further information see the Data Protection
Commissioner's website where the draft Code of Practice is posted.



Do businesses have to tell me if they are going to record or monitor my phone calls or e-mails?

No. as long as the recording or monitoring is done for one of the above purposes the only obligation
on businesses is to inform their own employees. If businesses want to record for any other purpose,
such as market research, they will have to obtain your consent.

What do I do if my calls have been recorded unlawfully?

Under RIPA it is a tort to record or monitor a communication unlawfully. This means that if you think
you have suffered from unlawful interception of your phone calls or e-mails you have the right to seek
redress by taking civil action against the offender in the courts.


see websites:

http://www.oftel.org/consumer/advice/faqs/prvfaq3.htm

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ripa/ripact.htm

http://www.dti.gov.uk/cii/regulatory/telecomms/telecommsregulations/lawful_business_practice_regulations.shtml