Social media users claim that beginning in January 2026, all phone calls lasting more than 10 minutes will be recorded and stored by phone companies for 30 days.

This claim is misleading.

While phone providers retain certain call and text records for limited periods, there is no credible evidence that full phone conversations will be recorded or stored beginning in January 2026.

Read the full fact-check below to learn how and why providers are allowed to hold call and text information:

The “What Is True?” team traced this rumor to posts circulating on social media that claim phone companies will start recording private conversations and storing them for at least 30 days.

Social media users claim phone companies will start recording private phone conversations and then keep them for at least 30 days starting in January. The claim first appeared in the United Kingdom before spreading to the United States, where users speculated the same policy would take effect in January 2026.

According to Full Fact, a U.K.-based fact-checking organization, this claim is false in the United Kingdom. There is no new law or policy requiring telecom providers to record all phone conversations.

In the United States, some users linked the rumor to the Patriot Act of 2001, which expanded the government’s authority to access certain types of electronic records after the 9/11 attacks. However, the specific provision that allowed bulk data collection expired in 2015.

That same year, President Barack Obama signed the Freedom Act, which restricted the government’s ability to collect large volumes of communication data and limited surveillance to individuals suspected of terrorist activity. The Freedom Act does not require or authorize phone companies to record private conversations.

Phone companies do keep limited records, such as call logs and text metadata — typically including the date, time, duration and numbers involved — but not the content of phone conversations. The amount of time phone companies can store that information can vary, according to a 2010 U.S. Department of Justice document on telecom data retention.

Phone recording laws also vary by state. In Mississippi, a “one-party consent” state, only one participant in a conversation must give consent for a recording to be legal, though some other states require all parties to agree. These laws apply to individuals and organizations, not automatic telecom surveillance.

How to spot misinformation about digital privacy

— Check official sources. If a post mentions a new surveillance policy or law, look for confirmation from the Federal Communications Commission or reputable news outlets.

— Beware of vague deadlines. Claims that start with “on Jan. 1” or “next month” often resurface yearly without evidence.

— Look for named legislation. Laws like the Patriot Act or Freedom Act are often misrepresented — read what they actually say.

— Understand what data companies collect. Call logs are not the same as recorded conversations.

— Avoid sharing until verified. Even well-meaning reposts can spread false information and cause panic.

This report was produced by the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center as part of its “What Is True?” fact-checking service. The center investigates local claims to help the public separate fact from fiction. To learn more or submit a claim for review, visit rhcjcnews.com/witreq.