Can I record calls without asking for permission?

There's no way to silently record — on both the previous version and the bot-free experience, there is always some form of visibility or consent mechanism in place. On the previous version, the bot is visible and Zoom notifies participants. On the bot-free experience, in-app consent prompts or the in-chat message handle this.

Here’s why:

• Zoom automatically notifies the host when someone is recording, even if the “Automatically Request Recording Consent” setting is turned off.

• The recording notification banner is another built-in way Fathom asks for consent. This appears to all participants and cannot be hidden automatically.

• Turning off the banner does not hide the bot from the participant list — it will still be visible as a meeting participant.

On the new bot-free experience? Consent works a little differently — Fathom uses Recording Notice to post a message in your meeting chat when recording starts. There are also in-app consent prompts if Recording Notice is off. Either way, participants are always notified. Learn how consent works in the new experience →

To stay compliant and respectful of participants’ privacy, Fathom is designed to make sure recording is transparent. There's no way to silently record without some form of consent or visibility.

Let us know if you need help adjusting your recording settings or sharing consent language with your guests!