Before you use AI Notetaker with someone else, ask for their consent first. This article covers what to say, what to do if someone declines, and where the rules are stricter than basic etiquette.
Why this matters
People talk more openly when they know what's happening. A clear, friendly heads-up sets the tone for everything that follows — and in many places, it's also the law.
You are responsible for getting consent from anyone you speak with while capturing a Notetaker Note.
When to ask
Ask before you start capturing — not after. The moment to do it is when you reach for your phone, not after the conversation has wrapped.
In person, one-on-one. A quick line as you open the Blinq app is enough.
In person, group conversation. Make sure everyone in earshot has heard you and agreed. If someone joins partway through, bring them up to speed and re-confirm.
What to say
Short, specific, and in your own voice works better than a formal script. Here are starting points for the most common situations.
For a client or prospect meeting:
"Before we get into it — I'd like to record a Note while we chat so I can follow up properly. Are you okay with that?"
At an event or quick networking conversation:
"I want to make sure I remember the details of this — mind if I record our chat using Blinq AI Notetaker?"
For a longer or more personal conversation:
"This is important to me and I want to remember what you say without taking notes the whole time. Is it okay if I record this? I'm happy to share the transcript and summary with you afterwards."
A few things worth doing every time:
Offer to share the output. It signals that the Note is for both of you, not surveillance.
Tell them they can change their mind. People agree more readily when they know they can withdraw.
If someone declines — or changes their mind
If they say no upfront, don't capture. Put the phone away and take notes the old-fashioned way.
If they decline mid-conversation, or come back later and ask you to delete:
Tap End on the Note straight away (if it's still running).
Open the Note from the Notetaker tab and delete it.
Let them know it's deleted.
Where the rules are stricter
Recording laws vary by country — and often by state or province within a country. Some places require everyone on the call to agree before recording starts (often called "all-party" or "two-party" consent); others only require one person, usually you ("one-party consent"). A growing number of jurisdictions also have specific rules around AI transcription, how long recordings and transcripts can be kept, and who they can be shared with.
We strive to keep this article up to date, but laws change, and we can't track every nuance in every jurisdiction where Blinq is used. Nothing here is legal advice. If you're unsure what applies to you — or to the people you're meeting with, who may be in a different jurisdiction — check with your legal team or a local lawyer before turning on the AI Notetaker.
United States
United States
In the United States, the following states require consent from everyone in the conversation:
California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Washington.
Other jurisdictions have their own rules.
European Union
European Union
Each member state sets its own rule for when a participant may record a call. Positions vary and have shifted over time, so treat the groupings below as indicative only and confirm the current position with local counsel before relying on them.
Generally one-party / participant consent traditions: e.g. Ireland, Denmark, Netherlands (subject to caveats for business use).
Generally all-party / two-party traditions or strong restrictions on covert recording: e.g. France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland.
Recording without notice may attract criminal liability in several member states, separate from any data-protection breach.
Workplace and customer-service recording is typically subject to additional rules (works-council consultation, employee notice, sectoral regulators).
ePrivacy Directive 2002/58/EC
ePrivacy Directive 2002/58/EC
Article 5(1) protects the confidentiality of communications and prohibits listening, tapping, storage or other kinds of interception or surveillance of communications by persons other than the users, without the consent of the users concerned.
Implementing law sits in each member state and operates alongside, not instead of, GDPR.
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The UK doesn't have a "two-party consent" rule of the kind that operates in some other countries. Two things apply at the same time: the rules about recording the call itself, and UK data protection law (UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018), which covers what happens to the recording afterwards.
If you record a call yourself: UK law generally allows you to record your own calls for personal use without telling the other person. Sharing the recording is stricter — posting it online, sending it on, or using it in a business context will usually need a lawful basis under UK GDPR, most often the other person's consent. Different rules apply at work.
Australia
Australia
Australian states fall into two broad groups when it comes to a party recording their own call.
A party to the call may record without the other person's separate consent: Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory. Even in these states, sharing the recording with someone outside the call is restricted.
All parties on the call generally need to consent to the recording: New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory. Each of these has a narrow exception that allows one party to record without the other's consent where it's reasonably necessary to protect that party's lawful interests, but it's a tight test and not a general permission.
If you're not sure where you stand:
Default to asking everyone and confirm that they consent to being recorded. It's the only approach that works in every jurisdiction.
Get it on the record. If you're in an all-party state, ask at the start of the Note so the agreement is captured in the audio itself.
When in doubt, don't. A Note isn't worth a legal problem.
This article is a general guide, not legal advice. If you capture conversations regularly for work, talk to your legal team about what applies to you.
FAQ
Do I need to ask if I'm the only one talking?
No. If you're using AI Notetaker as a dictaphone for your own thoughts, consent doesn't apply.
What if I'm at a public event and capturing my own side of a conversation?
You're still capturing the other person's voice, so the same rules apply. Ask first.
Can Blinq automatically ask for consent for me?
Not currently. That keeps the disclosure in your hands, in the moment, in your own words.
Where can I read Blinq's full privacy policy?