Is it OK to use an AI note taker? Consent, plainly.
This is general information, not legal advice. Laws differ by country and state, and they change. If you’re unsure, ask a lawyer where you and the other people on the call are.
TL;DR
- US federal law lets you record a conversation you’re part of. Some states, such as Washington and Florida, need everyone’s consent.
- In the EU and UK, a work call’s recording or transcript is personal data under GDPR: you need a lawful basis, and you must tell people.
- An AI note taker on your computer doesn’t join the call, so nothing shows up in the participant list. Telling people is your job.
- The habit that covers all of this: tell everyone at the start, and stop if someone says no.
Recording laws in one minute
The US, federally. Federal law lets a person record a call or conversation they’re part of, or one where a participant has agreed, unless it’s done to commit a crime or a tort (18 U.S.C. § 2511(2)(d)). This is called one-party consent: your own consent can be enough.
Some states ask for everyone. State law can be stricter. Washington makes it unlawful to record a private conversation “without first obtaining the consent of all the persons engaged in the conversation”. It also counts that consent as given when one person announces, in a reasonably effective way, that the conversation is about to be recorded, and the announcement is recorded too (RCW 9.73.030). In Florida, intercepting a conversation is lawful when all of the parties have given prior consent (Florida Statutes § 934.03).
The EU and the UK. Information about a person who can be identified, such as their name or what they said, is personal data (European Data Protection Board; UK GDPR Article 4). You need a legal basis to process it (European Data Protection Board; UK GDPR Article 6), and the people you collect it from have the right to be told what you collect and why (European Data Protection Board; UK GDPR Article 13). The UK regulator says to decide your lawful basis before you start (ICO).
At work, your employer may have its own rules about recording calls. Check them too.
| Where | What you need | Source |
|---|---|---|
| US federal | One party’s consent (yours, if you’re on the call) | 18 U.S.C. § 2511(2)(d) |
| Washington | Everyone’s consent | RCW 9.73.030 |
| Florida | Everyone’s consent | Fla. Stat. § 934.03 |
| EU and UK | A lawful basis, and telling people | GDPR Articles 6 and 13 |
What an AI note taker changes
A note taker that joins as a bot shows itself: it sits in the participant list, and everyone sees it. An app on your computer, like Noted, doesn’t join the call at all. Nothing changes on the other side, and Noted doesn’t announce itself, so telling people is your job. How bot-free meeting notes work goes through it in detail.
Noted reminds you. Every meeting recording opens with “Let people know you’re taking notes.” and a Copy consent line button, for 30 seconds or until you close it. The Live Answers settings say it too: “Always get consent before recording others. Laws in some places require telling other participants you’re taking notes.”
What to say at the start of a call
In the chat, paste the line Noted copies for you: Heads up: I'm taking notes of this call with
Noted.
Out loud, ask, and wait for the answer: I’m using an app to take notes on this call. Is that
OK?
Say it again when someone joins late.
What to do when someone says no
Stop recording, and take notes by hand. The meeting still happens. If only part of the call is the problem, stop for that part, and say when you start again.
FAQ
Do I need consent to use an AI note taker?
Often, yes. US states such as Washington and Florida need everyone’s consent. In the EU and UK you need a lawful basis, which isn’t always consent, and you must tell people. Where your own consent is enough, telling people is still the honest thing to do.
Is one person’s consent enough?
Under US federal law it can be, but some states need everyone’s. A call can include people in several places, so ask everyone.
Does Noted tell people it’s recording?
No. Nothing joins the call and Noted doesn’t announce itself. It reminds you to tell them, and copies a line you can paste into the chat.
What should I say?
Out loud: I’m using an app to take notes on this call. Is that OK?
In the chat: Heads up: I'm
taking notes of this call with Noted.
What if someone says no?
Stop recording and take notes by hand.
Is my audio sent anywhere?
No. Speech becomes text on your computer, and audio is never sent to us or anyone else. The transcript text goes to Noted’s servers and our AI providers to write the meeting note. Audio isn’t kept after your note is written, unless you turn on Keep audio for 7 days. The privacy page has the details.
Sources
- 18 U.S.C. § 2511 (Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School)
- RCW 9.73.030 (Washington State Legislature)
- Florida Statutes § 934.03 (Florida Legislature)
- Data protection basics, Process personal data lawfully and Respect individuals’ rights (European Data Protection Board)
- UK GDPR Article 4, Article 6 and Article 13 (legislation.gov.uk)
- A guide to lawful basis (Information Commissioner’s Office)
Checked 19 October 2026.
See how it works on a call: Noted Notetaker.