Is it against the law to eavesdrop?

There is a "crime of eavesdropping" in many jurisdictions which involves intentionally overhearing, recording, amplifying or transmitting a private conversation in a private place without permission of the persons being listened to. Overhearing conversations in public is not usually covered by this, as people can expect to be overheard when in public. Using a listening device, wire-tapping, recording private conversations, etc., are generally activities considered to be illegal where consent is absent, although exceptions exist for law enforcement, employment and safety reasons. Since the laws vary by jurisdiction, it’s important to know your local legislation to get an accurate answer to this question in your location.