Can I record a meeting with a client?

Under the Privacy Act, you can record a meeting with a client or an employee, but you need to be upfront and tell them that you would like to do that.

Information Privacy Principle (IPP) 4 of the Privacy Act states that personal information must be collected in a way that is lawful and seen as fair and reasonable in the circumstances. For example, consideration of the age and capacity of the individual concerned and the sensitivity of the information. It would also be generally unfair to record a meeting without letting the other person know as, for instance, you could manipulate the conversation in a specific direction.

You should also keep in mind that if you do make a recording, the client or employee will be entitled to request a copy of the recording.

If you are recording in the context of an employment relationship, we recommend you seek legal advice as to what other employment related legal issues this may raise.

Updated October 2025