Michigan Compiled Laws
Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.539c (2026)
Eavesdropping upon private conversation.
✓ current as of July 2026
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THE MICHIGAN PENAL CODE
Act 328 of 1931
750.539c Eavesdropping upon private conversation.
Sec. 539c.
Any person who is present or who is not present during a private conversation and who wilfully uses any device to eavesdrop upon the conversation without the consent of all parties thereto, or who knowingly aids, employs or procures another person to do the same in violation of this section, is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in a state prison for not more than 2 years or by a fine of not more than $2,000.00, or both.
History: Add. 1966, Act 319, Eff. Mar. 10, 1967
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 33
cases (8 in the last 5 years), 1970–2025 · leading case: Lewis v. LeGrow, 670 N.W.2d 675 (Mich. Ct. App. 2003).
Lewis v. LeGrow, 670 N.W.2d 675 (Mich. Ct. App. 2003). “MCL 750.539c prohibits eavesdropping but that prohibition is limited by subsection 539a(2) to overhearing, recording, amplifying or transmitting the private discourse of others without the permission of all persons engaged in the discourse.”
Sullivan v. Gray, 324 N.W.2d 58 (Mich. Ct. App. 1982). “MCL 750.539c; MSA 28.807(3) provides: "Any person who is present or who is not present during a private conversation and who wilfully uses any device to eavesdrop upon the conversation without the consent of all parties thereto, or who knowingly aids, employs or procures another…”
People v. Stone, 621 N.W.2d 702 (Mich. 2001). “807(3), which provides: Any person who is present or who is not present during a private conversation and who wilfully uses any device to eavesdrop upon the conversation without the consent of all *562 parties thereto, or who knowingly aids, employs, or procures another person…”
People v. Collins, 475 N.W.2d 684 (Mich. 1991). “] [45] MCL 750.539c; MSA 28.807(3) makes it a felony to "wilfully" use "any device to eavesdrop" upon a private conversation without the consent of all participants.”
People v. Lucas, 470 N.W.2d 460 (Mich. Ct. App. 1991). “19 Because we conclude that he was not an eavesdropper, we hold that Commander Turner did not violate MCL 750.539c; MSA 28.807(3). 20 Likewise, we reject defendant’s claim that suppression was required under 18 USC 2515, 21 which prohibits the use in any trial of communications…”
People v. Warner, 258 N.W.2d 385 (Mich. 1977). “MCLA 750.539c; MSA 28.807(3) provides: "Any person who * * * wilfully uses any device to eavesdrop upon the conversation without the consent of all parties thereto * * * is guilty of a felony * * *".”
Dickerson v. Raphael, 564 N.W.2d 85 (Mich. Ct. App. 1997). “[MCL 750.539c; MSA 28.807(3).] Similarly, divulging unlawfully obtained information is a felony: Any person who uses or divulges any information which he knows or reasonably should know was obtained in violation of sections 539b, 539c or 539d is guilty of a felony, pirn *192…”
Williams v. Williams, 581 N.W.2d 777 (Mich. Ct. App. 1998). “Indeed, this Court has previously interpreted the relevant provision of the Michigan eavesdropping statute to mean that even if an eavesdropper acts as an agent of a participant in the conversation, that third party nonetheless used a device to eavesdrop “upon the conversation…”
In Re Seitz, 495 N.W.2d 559 (Mich. 1993). “They specifically found that Judge Seitz had violated the eavesdropping statutes, MCL 750.539c; MSA 28.807(3) and MCL 750.539f; MSA 28.”
People v. Stone, 593 N.W.2d 680 (Mich. Ct. App. 1999). “MCL 750.539c; MSA 28.807(3) provides: Any person who is present or who is not present during a private conversation and who wilfully uses any device to eavesdrop upon the conversation without the consent of all parties thereto, or who knowingly aids, employs or procures another…”
Mlive Media Grp. v. City of Grand Rapdis, 909 N.W.2d 282 (Mich. Ct. App. 2017). “Michigan's eavesdropping statutes prohibit the "willful[ ]" use of a device to eavesdrop on a private conversation without all parties' consent, MCL 750.539c, and "us[ing]" or "divulg[ing]" information that a person "knows or reasonably should know was obtained" through…”
People v. Mattison, 182 N.W.2d 604 (Mich. Ct. App. 1970). “4 *458 Mattison alternatively argues that the recording should be excluded because it was obtained in viola *459 tion of MCLA § 750.539c (Stat Ann 1970 Cnm Snpp § 28.”
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