{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "penal", "section": "250.00", "citation": "Penal Law § 250.00", "heading": "Eavesdropping; definitions of terms", "text": ["§ 250.00 Eavesdropping; definitions of terms.", "The following definitions are applicable to this article:", "1. \"Wiretapping\" means the intentional overhearing or recording of a telephonic or telegraphic communication by a person other than a sender or receiver thereof, without the consent of either the sender or receiver, by means of any instrument, device or equipment. The normal operation of a telephone or telegraph corporation and the normal use of the services and facilities furnished by such corporation pursuant to its tariffs or necessary to protect the rights or property of said corporation shall not be deemed \"wiretapping.\"", "2. \"Mechanical overhearing of a conversation\" means the intentional overhearing or recording of a conversation or discussion, without the consent of at least one party thereto, by a person not present thereat, by means of any instrument, device or equipment.", "3. \"Telephonic communication\" means any aural transfer made in whole or in part through the use of facilities for the transmission of communications by the aid of wire, cable or other like connection between the point of origin and the point of reception (including the use of such connection in a switching station) furnished or operated by any person engaged in providing or operating such facilities for the transmission of communications and such term includes any electronic storage of such communications.", "4. \"Aural transfer\" means a transfer containing the human voice at any point between and including the point of origin and the point of reception.", "5. \"Electronic communication\" means any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photoelectronic or photo-optical system, but does not include:", "(a) any telephonic or telegraphic communication; or", "(b) any communication made through a tone only paging device; or", "(c) any communication made through a tracking device consisting of an electronic or mechanical device which permits the tracking of the movement of a person or object; or", "(d) any communication that is disseminated by the sender through a method of transmission that is configured so that such communication is readily accessible to the general public.", "6. \"Intercepting or accessing of an electronic communication\" and \"intentionally intercepted or accessed\" mean the intentional acquiring, receiving, collecting, overhearing, or recording of an electronic communication, without the consent of the sender or intended receiver thereof, by means of any instrument, device or equipment, except when used by a telephone company in the ordinary course of its business or when necessary to protect the rights or property of such company.", "7. \"Electronic communication service\" means any service which provides to users thereof the ability to send or receive wire or electronic communications.", "8. \"Unlawfully\" means not specifically authorized pursuant to article seven hundred or seven hundred five of the criminal procedure law for the purposes of this section and sections 250.05, 250.10, 250.15, 250.20, 250.25, 250.30 and 250.35 of this article."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/250.00", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "This section defines the terms used in the eavesdropping article.\n- **(1)** **Wiretapping** is intentionally overhearing or recording a telephone or telegraph communication, **by someone other than the sender or receiver**, **without the consent of either**, by any device. Normal operation and use of a phone or telegraph company's services, or acts needed to protect its rights or property, are not wiretapping.\n- **(2)** **Mechanical overhearing of a conversation** is a person **not present** intentionally overhearing or recording a conversation by any device **without the consent of at least 1 party**. ★\n- **(3)-(4)** A **telephonic communication** is an aural transfer made in whole or part over wire, cable or similar facilities (including switching stations), and includes electronic storage of such communications; an **aural transfer** contains the **human voice** at any point from origin to reception.\n- **(5)** An **electronic communication** is any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data or intelligence by wire, radio, electromagnetic, photoelectronic or photo-optical system, but **excludes** telephonic or telegraphic communications, tone-only pagers, tracking devices, and communications sent so they are readily accessible to the general public.\n- **(6)** **Intercepting or accessing** an electronic communication means intentionally acquiring, receiving, collecting, overhearing or recording it by any device **without the consent of the sender or intended receiver**, except by a telephone company in the ordinary course of business or to protect its rights or property. ★\n- **(7)** An **electronic communication service** lets users send or receive wire or electronic communications.\n- **(8)** **Unlawfully** means **not specifically authorized under CPL article 700 or 705**, for purposes of this section and **§§ 250.05, 250.10, 250.15, 250.20, 250.25, 250.30 and 250.35**.", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/penal/250.00", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}