Online meeting apps put a record button on the main screen. Many phones can record calls, and screen recorders are free. As a result, recording conversations has become routine: for meeting minutes, proof of a payment promise, or simply as a reminder.
Most of that recording is reasonable. Problems usually arise not when the record button is pressed, but when the recording is used: posted to social media, forwarded to a group, or used as a weapon in a dispute.
This is a general overview, not legal advice. For a real case, consult a lawyer.
Recording is not the same as wiretapping
Indonesia's Electronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE) prohibits unlawful interception or wiretapping, meaning listening to, recording, or capturing electronic transmissions that belong to other people. Examples are installing spyware on a partner's phone, or recording two other people's conversation from a network you control. Lawful interception is carried out only by law enforcement under statutory authority.
Recording a conversation you take part in yourself, as one of the parties, is generally not viewed as interception in that sense. You are, after all, a recipient of the communication. But "not wiretapping" is not the same as "free to use however you like".
Recordings are personal data
Recorded voices, faces, and names are personal data under the Personal Data Protection Law (UU PDP). For individuals recording for personal or household purposes, the PDP obligations generally don't apply in full. But for companies, institutions, or businesses that record customers and staff, they do: a clear purpose, notice to the people recorded, secure storage, and deletion once no longer needed. A summary of those obligations is in personal data security and the PDP Law.
A familiar example: customer service lines that play "this call is recorded for quality purposes" before connecting. That is the kind of notice expected.
Sharing recordings
This is where the biggest legal risk lies. A recording that is posted or forwarded can cause problems if:
- its content attacks someone's honour or reputation, which can fall under defamation provisions in the ITE Law and the Criminal Code;
- it contains other people's personal data, such as phone numbers, addresses, or health details;
- it contains trade secrets or confidential company information, which may breach an employment or non-disclosure agreement;
- it is cut so that its meaning differs from the original conversation.
A recording you may lawfully keep isn't necessarily one you may lawfully share. Consider whether your goal can be reached without posting it, for example by handing it directly to a manager, a complaints body, or the authorities.
Recordings as evidence
The ITE Law recognises electronic information and documents, including recordings, as evidence. In a 2016 ruling, the Constitutional Court stressed that recordings from interception can only be used if carried out by or at the request of law enforcement. A recording of your own conversation stands on firmer ground, but courts still assess its authenticity and how it was obtained.
If a recording may be needed in a dispute, keep the original file unedited, note the date and the people involved, and make a backup copy. Clipped files or re-downloads from social media are much easier to challenge.
Online meetings at work and school
| Situation | Recommended practice |
|---|---|
| Internal meeting recorded for minutes | Announce it at the start; the app's built-in recording also notifies participants |
| Meeting with a client or partner | Ask for consent before recording, and agree who keeps the file |
| Online class recorded for students | Inform students and parents; limit access to class members |
| Job interview | Ask the candidate's permission, and delete the recording once it's no longer needed |
Companies should have a written policy: which meetings may be recorded, who stores them, for how long, and who may access them. That policy fits alongside the rules on monitoring employee internet use. On the security side, meeting recordings stored in the cloud or behind open share links are a common source of leaks; see online meeting and screen-sharing security.
Practical guidelines
- Record only conversations you take part in.
- Tell the other person when you can. A short "I'm recording this for my notes" is enough.
- Store recordings somewhere secure and delete them when no longer needed.
- Don't share recordings that contain personal data or attack someone's reputation.
- For a dispute, keep the original file and get a lawyer's opinion.
The same principles apply to cameras at home and at work, covered in CCTV rules and privacy.
Frequently asked questions
Is recording a call with someone without telling them wiretapping?
Interception under the ITE Law is essentially about someone capturing other people's communications without right. Recording a conversation you are part of is generally viewed differently. Even so, how the recording is used and shared can still create legal problems, so telling the other person is the safest course.
Can a recording of an office meeting be shared outside the company?
Better not without permission. Meeting recordings usually contain participants' faces, voices, and names, which are personal data, as well as company information that may be confidential. Follow company policy and ask participants' consent if the recording needs to be shared.
Can a recording be used as evidence?
Electronic recordings can serve as evidence, but how they were obtained also matters. A recording obtained unlawfully risks being rejected. For a serious dispute, keep the original file unedited and consult a lawyer.
