Interception of Communications (Iowa wiretap act)
Iowa Wiretap Act
Communications
Iowa's wiretap act makes it a felony to willfully intercept wire, oral, or electronic communications, or to use or disclose unlawfully intercepted contents, and gives victims a civil damages claim. Interception is lawful when the interceptor is a party or one party consents, unless done to commit a crime or tort, and property owners may capture oral communications with consented surveillance systems for crime prevention.
- Where
- Iowa
- Citation
- Iowa Code ch. 808B (808B.1 to 808B.14)
- Status
- In force
- Last amended
- 2018-07-01
- Enforced by
- County attorneys and the Attorney General (criminal); aggrieved persons (civil)
- People can sue
- Yes
- Penalties
- Willful interception, use, or disclosure is a class D felony (808B.2(1)). Victims may recover actual damages of at least $100 per day or $1,000, whichever is higher, punitive damages for willful, malicious, or reckless violations, attorney fees, and injunctive relief (808B.8).
- Applies to
- Any person who intercepts, or uses or discloses the contents of, wire, oral, or electronic communications (808B.2)
- Communications common carriers and switchboard operators (808B.2(2)(a), (3))
- Any person installing or using a pen register or trap and trace device (808B.10)
Practices it requires
- Do not willfully intercept, or use or disclose the contents of unlawfully intercepted, wire, oral, or electronic communications.Iowa Code 808B.2(1)(a)-(d)
- Interception is lawful if the person is a party or one party consented in advance, unless done to commit a criminal, tortious, or other injurious act.Iowa Code 808B.2(2)(c)
- Property owners or lessees may intercept oral communications through a surveillance system on their property installed with all owners' or lessees' consent and used to detect or prevent crime.Iowa Code 808B.2(2)(d) · From 2018-07-01
- Communications carriers may intercept only as a necessary incident to service or to protect their rights or property, and may not use service observing or random monitoring except for mechanical or quality checks.Iowa Code 808B.2(2)(a) · Only if: Communications common carrier
- Do not install or use a pen register or trap and trace device without a warrant or court order, except for provider operations, abuse protection, or consent-based uses listed in the statute.Iowa Code 808B.10(1)
Sources
Checked against these sources on 2026-09-25 by research agent (Claude), primary sources.
Unverified: Original effective date of 1989 Acts ch. 225 not confirmed (session law not opened).
Research reference, not legal advice.