Illinois is a two-party (all-party) consent state under the Eavesdropping Act (720 ILCS 5/14-2). Recording private conversations without consent from all parties is a Class 4 felony. The 2014 amendments narrowed the scope but maintained strict consent requirements for private communications.
The Illinois Eavesdropping Act (720 ILCS 5/14-2) prohibits recording any private conversation without the consent of all parties involved. Following the 2014 amendments (after the Illinois Supreme Court struck down parts of the original law), the statute specifically protects 'private conversations' — those carried on under circumstances reasonably indicating that any party intends the conversation to be private. Recording conversations in public places where there is no expectation of privacy is generally permissible. The law applies to both audio recording devices and electronic surveillance. Law enforcement recordings are subject to separate provisions under the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act (50 ILCS 706). Violations can result in both criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits for damages.
Class 4 felony: 1-3 years imprisonment, fines up to $25,000. Civil damages of $10,000 or actual damages per violation (whichever is greater) under 720 ILCS 5/14-6.
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See how Cook County's recording & consent laws rules stack up against other locations.
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