We all know there's laws about recording phone calls. In most states, you have to tell the person you're recording that you are recording them, but the laws vary from state to state.
This page has a nice rundown of all the laws.
I'm curious about this, though - if it's illegal to record phone calls without telling the other party on the line, then how are wacky morning DJs able to prank call random people live on the air? Don't radio stations record everything that's broadcast? Like the MJ Morning Show where MJ loves to call and harass celebrities and people from news stories. Every once in awhile MJ goes on vacation and they play some "best of" material, which consists of some of the funnier moments of recent shows. This proves that they're taping everything, hoping to get more "best of" material. I'm sure all DJs do this. So how are they getting away with this?
Also, let's assume that they aren't recording their own shows and that they're simply prank calling people on the air. What if I record their show from my home while they're pranking somebody? Am I breaking the law then? If I were to put up a recording of a phone call that I heard on a radio show on my website, could I be arrested for recording without consent?
