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Privacy & Surveillance in Chicago, IL (2026)

1 verified privacy & surveillance rules for Chicago, Illinois, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Recording & Consent Laws

Illinois is an all-party consent state for audio recording under 720 ILCS 5/14-2. Recording a private conversation without consent from all parties is a felony. The law was amended in 2014 to focus on private conversations where parties have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Violations carry 1-3 years imprisonment.

Illinois Recording Consent Laws (Chicago)

Heavy Restrictions

720 ILCS 5/14-2(a) - Illinois Eavesdropping Statute

A person commits eavesdropping when he or she knowingly and intentionally: (1) Uses an eavesdropping device, in a surreptitious manner, for the purpose of overhearing, transmitting, or recording all or any part of any private conversation to which he or she is not a party unless he or she does so with the consent of all of the parties to the private conversation; (2) Uses an eavesdropping devic...

Looking for Cook County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Chicago city rules.

Privacy & Surveillance in Cook County