Recording calls in Singapore: what the law says

On recording calls, Singapore law does not, as far as we could find, make it an offence for a person taking part in a call to record it. The interception offences we checked are aimed at unauthorised third parties. The main law for anyone recording in a business setting is the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (PDPA), which treats an identifiable voice recording as personal data and asks organisations to give notice, have consent or an exception, and keep it only as long as needed.

This guide covers what we checked about recording itself, then the PDPA as the PDPC explains it, and a routine that works. For the picture across countries, see is it legal to record a meeting?

Recording calls in Singapore: the law at a glance

Layer 1: recording a call you are on

We found no Singapore statute that makes it an offence for a party to record their own conversation. The closest provision we checked is section 6(1)(b) of the Computer Misuse Act 1993, which punishes anyone who "intercepts or causes to be intercepted without authority … any function of a computer by means of an electromagnetic, acoustic, mechanical or other device", with a fine of up to $10,000, up to three years' imprisonment, or both. That is aimed at unauthorised third parties, not at a participant.

We did not check every statute that could be relevant, such as the telecommunications, harassment and evidence laws, so treat this as a summary rather than a complete answer. Publishing or using a recording to harass or harm someone raises other issues in any case.

Layer 2: the Personal Data Protection Act

The PDPA (checked 25 September 2026) sets the rules for organisations that collect, use or disclose personal data. A recording of a meeting, its transcript and notes made from it can all be personal data about the people in it.

Who the obligations fall on

Section 4(1) says the Act's main obligations do not apply to "(a) any individual acting in a personal or domestic capacity; (b) any employee acting in the course of his or her employment". The organisation carries them instead. So:

• A recording of a family call you keep for yourself is outside the Act's main obligations.
• An employee's recording of a client meeting is the employer's responsibility under the Act.
• A sole proprietor's business recordings are the business's responsibility.

Consent and notice

• Consent. Section 13 says an organisation must not collect, use or disclose personal data unless the individual consents or is deemed to consent, or an exception applies.
• Notice. Section 20 requires the organisation to tell the individual the purposes "on or before collecting" the data. Consent given without that information is not valid (section 14).
• Deemed consent. Section 15 treats a person as consenting where they voluntarily provide the data for a purpose and it is reasonable that they would. Section 15A allows deemed consent by notification, after an assessment and a reasonable period to opt out.
• Reasonable purposes. Section 18 limits purposes to those "a reasonable person would consider appropriate in the circumstances", and that the individual has been told about.
• Exceptions. The Act's schedules list situations where consent is not needed, including a legitimate-interests exception subject to an assessment.

What the PDPC's guidelines say about audio

The PDPC's Advisory Guidelines on the PDPA for Selected Topics have a chapter on photography, video and audio recordings. Among its points:

• "An audio recording may comprise personal data if an individual can be identified from that audio recording … an individual may be identified from his voice."
• As good practice, consent should be obtained "in writing or recorded in a manner that is accessible for future reference".
• Deemed consent may apply where a person voluntarily lets themselves be recorded.

The PDPC's guidelines on key concepts, revised in April 2026, include an example of a contact centre that tells callers their voice data is collected, and treats a new use of those recordings, voice authentication, as needing its own basis. The pattern is the same throughout: say what you record and why, and do not quietly reuse it for something else.

Retention

Section 25 requires an organisation to stop keeping personal data once the purpose it was collected for "is no longer being served" and keeping it is "no longer necessary for legal or business purposes". The Act sets no fixed period. How long to keep meeting recordings has a starting schedule.

A routine for recording calls with people in Singapore

1. If you record for work, check your organisation's policy; the PDPA duties are its duties. Writing a meeting recording policy covers what one should say.
2. Tell people at the start that you are recording and what for. Getting their agreement on the recording itself gives you consent "recorded in a manner that is accessible for future reference".
3. Stop if anyone objects.
4. Use the recording only for the purpose you gave.
5. Delete it when that purpose is served.

How to ask for consent to record has wording for this.

How Notey fits into this

Notey records your microphone and the sound your Mac plays, on your own Mac. Nothing joins the call.

• Nothing is saved until you press Allow when Notey notices a call, unless you chose a rule in advance, such as arming the next call.
• Start first, then ask: with the recording running, the question and each person's answer are on the recording.
• The audio stays on your Mac and is transcribed there. For AI notes, only transcript text is sent, to Notey's service and on to OpenAI as a processor, when you ask. See the privacy policy.
• Deleting a meeting removes its recording, transcript and notes, from every Mac with sync on.
• The red dot and elapsed timer are visible to you, not to the call.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to record a phone call in Singapore?

We found no statute that makes it an offence for a party to a call to record it. Interception offences, such as the Computer Misuse Act's, are aimed at unauthorised third parties. Organisations recording calls must still comply with the PDPA.

Is a voice recording personal data under the PDPA?

It can be. The PDPC's guidelines say an audio recording may be personal data if an individual can be identified from it, and that a person may be identified from their voice.

Does the PDPA apply to an employee recording a meeting?

The PDPA's obligations do not fall on an employee acting in the course of their employment; they fall on the employer, as the organisation. So an employee's work recordings are the employer's responsibility under the Act.

Does the PDPA apply to a recording I make for myself?

No. Individuals acting in a personal or domestic capacity are outside the Act's main obligations.

How long can an organisation keep call recordings in Singapore?

The PDPA sets no fixed period. An organisation must stop keeping personal data once the purpose is no longer served and it is not needed for legal or business purposes.