Councilwoman accused of taping calls. I hope she did
Newly-minted Trenton councilwoman Robin Vaughn is already making enemies on the board, with three council members accusing her of taping phone conversations.
Vaughn flatly denied the charges in a phone conversation (probably taped on our end) with a reporter from The Trentonian.
I’ll say this much: Iif Vaughn is indeed taping conversations, she’s perfectly in her right to do so. New Jersey is one of many “one party consent” states, meaning only one person needs to know a recording is being made, and that person can be the one taping the call.
And I’ll tell you this much: If Vaughn - or any member of a legislative body, anywhere - believes they should be taping a phone call, then I very much want them to tape that phone call. In my experience, taping a phone call or conversation only happens when the person making the recording thinks the other person is going to say something stupid, illegal, or both.
So yeah: Tape away, lawmakers. Catch one of your own doing something stupid, illegal, or both, and then promptly give us here at The Trentonian a call. We’ll take it from there.
Additionally, it’s not just political types that should worry about having their calls or conversations taped. Everyone should worry about it.
After all, recording a phone conversation a decade ago meant high-tech tools you’d have to buy at spy shops in New York. Recording a face-to-face meeting on the sly meant a tiny tape recorder.
But today? There’s an app for that. Everyone is carrying around a smartphone, and they all have the ability to pick up phone and face-to-face chats. They’re powerful, as well. Like, picking-up-whispers powerful.
As a result, I have taken to assuming all my conversations are being recorded. Everywhere. A boss calls me on the phone? I expect I’m being taped. HR sits me down for a meeting? I’m being recorded. And on and on.
Cynical? You bet. But it also forces me to choose my words wisely.
And know this: I’m liable to be taping you. In fact, if you call me on the phone, you are being taped. I downloaded a call recorder app for my job here, and it records every call. If you’re a friend, you need not worry. We’re friends. If you’re a source, you need not worry, as I’ll tell you you’re being recorded. If you’re an enemy, well, I hope you don’t read my column.
Bottom line: It’s too easy to record calls or conversations. To be surprised that Vaughn might be recording, or to be surprised Omarosa made tapes at the White House, is living in the past. It used to be difficult to pull off this feat; now it’s a click away.
Assume you’re always being recorded. Act accordingly. And if you don’t act accordingly, expect to see your face on the front page of this very newspaper.