Electronic Communications Privacy Act, Title I (Wiretap Act)

The Wiretap Act, as expanded by ECPA in 1986, makes it a crime to intentionally intercept the contents of wire, oral, or electronic communications in transit, or to use or disclose unlawfully intercepted contents. Federal law is one-party consent: a private party may record a communication it participates in, or where one party consents, unless done for a criminal or tortious purpose. Many states require all-party consent.