Can you record someone who is speaking in a language you don&#39;t understand without their consent?
<p>To my understanding Canada is a single party consent when it comes to recording a conversation i.e. if your a party, you can record it without the other parties knowledge. What if someone near you is speaking a different language? </p>

<p>For example if someone close to you is trying to exclude you from the conversation, is it legal to record it then get someone else to translate what was said? </p>

<h2>It is illegal in Canada to <a href="https://www.blg.com/en/insights/2016/05/can-i-record-a-meeting-with-my-boss" rel="nofollow noreferrer">wilfully intercept a private communication</a></h2>

<blockquote>
  <p>"Intercept" means: listen to; record; acquire or acquire the substance, meaning or purport of the communication. In plain words, you are not permitted to surreptitiously listen to someone else's conversation, let alone record it. In fact, it is illegal in Canada to possess surreptitious recording devices.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>There is an exception if <em>you</em> are part of the conversation or, of course, if the conversation is being conduct in a way that is clearly not private - a speech or debate for example.</p>

<p>If someone is “trying to exclude you” then a) it’s a private conversation and b) you are not part of it so it is illegal to intercept it at all.</p>

canada recording consent