Legal Definitions - aural acquisition

Definition: Aural acquisition is a term used in criminal law to describe the act of hearing or recording a communication, without tracing its origin or destination. This is covered under the Federal Wiretapping Act.

Example: If someone secretly records a phone conversation between two people without their knowledge or consent, this would be considered aural acquisition.

Explanation: Aural acquisition refers specifically to the act of hearing or recording a communication, rather than tracking where it came from or where it's going. In the example given, the person recording the phone conversation is not trying to trace the call or find out who the speakers are communicating with - they are simply trying to capture the conversation itself. This is a violation of the Federal Wiretapping Act and is illegal.