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Recording and consent.

Last updated September 23, 2026

Milra is designed to help you capture lectures so you can focus on learning. Before you record any class or conversation, it is important to understand the legal rules and school policies that apply. This guide explains the basics in plain language.

The short version

Recording laws in Canada

Under Canadian federal law, specifically Section 184 of the Criminal Code, recording private conversations is governed by a one-party consent standard. If you are an active participant in a conversation or a lecture you attend, you can legally record it without needing consent from the other speakers under federal criminal law.

However, provincial privacy legislation, civil laws protecting personal privacy, and institutional regulations may impose additional restrictions on how those recordings are collected and shared.

Recording laws in the United States

In the United States, federal law also recognizes a one-party consent standard under 18 U.S.C. 2511. Under federal law, you may record a conversation if you are one of the parties to it.

However, state wiretapping and recording laws differ significantly. Several states require all-party consent, meaning that every person participating in the conversation or lecture must consent before a recording can be made. These all-party consent states include California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Washington. A number of other states have related notice or consent rules that can have a similar practical effect. Montana, for example, requires you to announce that you are recording.

Because state recording statutes vary, are not all listed here, and court interpretations evolve, you should always check the current recording laws of your specific state before recording a lecture or discussion.

School and teacher rules

Regardless of whether recording is permitted under local criminal law, schools and teachers have the legal authority to set their own classroom rules. An instructor or school policy can restrict or completely ban recording in class.

Course syllabi and student codes of conduct frequently require you to obtain the teacher's express permission before making any audio recording. Violating these rules can lead to academic discipline, honor code penalties, or removal from the course. School and teacher rules can be stricter than the law, and you should always respect and follow them. When in doubt, ask your teacher before you press record.

Disability accommodations

If you have a documented disability or learning difference that requires audio recording as an academic accommodation, speak with your school's accessibility or disability-services office.

Under disability rights laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act in the United States, or provincial human rights codes in Canada, students with approved accommodations are often granted the legal right to record lectures for personal study, even when an instructor generally forbids recordings. Your campus accessibility office can coordinate with your instructors and provide the necessary official documentation.

Milra terms and privacy

Milra requires all users to record responsibly. Please review Recording responsibly in our Terms of Use for our acceptable use standards, and see Recording and consent in our Privacy Policy to understand how your recordings and transcripts are handled on your device and by our servers.

Questions

If you have questions about our policies, please email hello@milra.app.

Or write to Jacob Hurvitz, operating as Milra, 1 Saramia Crescent, Concord, ON L4K 3S6, Canada.

Legal disclaimer

This page is general information, not legal advice, and does not tell you whether recording is legal in your specific situation.