Illegal Recording

• It is illegal to tape a conversation you are not a part of, or could not overhear easily, unless you've received permission from the parties involved to record the conversation. Violators may face a fine of $100 a day for each day of violation, or $1,000, according to the Missouri Revised Statutes (as of August 2010). Victims may recover punitive damages, attorney fees and litigation costs.
  
  

Interstate Phone Calls

• Missouri is among 38 states, plus the District of Columbia, that follow the "one-party consent" law. The other 12 states require all parties involved in the conversation to agree to being recorded. Therefore, if you make an interstate phone call from Missouri, and the person you are calling lives in an all-party consent state, it's safest to assume that the all-party consent law takes precedence over the one-party statute.
  
  

Violations

• If you believe your conversation was recorded in violation of Missouri law, you may with to consult with any attorney about a possible civil lawsuit. If you suspect a phone company has recorded your conversation illegally, you can file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Filing a complaint is free, and can be done online, by telephone or in writing. Refer to the Resources section below for the FCC contact information.