Illinois Eavesdropping Law Under Scrutiny As NATO, G8 Summits Near

In Illinois, documenting life in the era of smartphones and YouTube can result in felony charges.

The strict Illinois eavesdropping law bars audio recordings unless all involved parties agree to it. The little-known law could draw more attention come May, when thousands of protesters and journalists descend on Chicago for the NATO and G8 summits and someone unknowingly may try to record a clash with police. Some state legislators say it's time to rewrite the law, which faces state and federal challenges. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan (D) has asked the state Supreme Court to address whether it is constitutional. Lawmakers want to include an exception that allows people to record police as they are doing their jobs.