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---
title: "ESMA Q&A 1771 — Q&A — Recording of telephone conversations and electronic [Answer Published]"
shortTitle: "ESMA Q&A 1771 — Q&A — Recording of telephone conversations and electronic [Answer Published]"
answer_id: ESMA_QA_1771
topic: "Recording of telephone conversations and electronic communications"
status: "Answer Published"
type: qa
instrument_type: qa
authority: ESMA
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legal_status: in_force
regulation: "MiFIR"
mifir_level3: true
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date: 10 October 2016
source_link: https://www.esma.europa.eu/publications-data/questions-answers/1771
lifecycle: "Answer Published"
text_version: "ESMA Q&A register, 10 October 2016"
source_url: "https://www.esma.europa.eu/publications-data/questions-answers/1771"
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---

**Answer by ESMA, published in its Q&A tool · not legislation · published 10 Oct 2016 [Answer Published]**

*Answer Published · ESMA Q&A register, 10 October 2016 · Checked against the ESMA publication on 26 Oct 2026 · [Official source](https://www.esma.europa.eu/publications-data/questions-answers/1771)*

| | |
|---|---|
| **Full title** | ESMA Q&A 1771 — Q&A — Recording of telephone conversations and electronic \[Answer Published\] |
| **Prepared by** | ESMA |
| **Published by** | ESMA, in the ESMA Q&A tool |
| **Reference** | ESMA_QA_1771 |
| **Document type** | Q&A |
| **Legal nature** | Not legislation |
| **Addressees** | Not stated in the document |
| **Dates** | Published 10 October 2016; question submitted 10 October 2016 |
| **Legal basis** | MiFIR |
| **Related instruments** | None recorded |
| **Text on this page** | Word for word — the full text of the ESMA publication |

**Recording of telephone conversations and electronic communications**

### Question

What types of electronic communications are within the scope of the new requirements?

***

### Answer

\[ESMA35-43-439 MiFID II Q&As on Investor protection Ch. 3, question 5\]

Article 16(7) of MiFID II requires the recording of telephone conversations or electronic communications. Any electronic communications involving transactions when dealing on own account or in the provision of client order services that relate to the reception, transmission and execution of client orders will fall within the rules. The term “electronic communication” covers many categories of communications and includes amongst others video conferencing, fax, email, Bloomberg mail, SMS, business to business devices, chat, instant messaging and mobile device applications.

ESMA will not produce an exhaustive list of electronic communications because of the continuing innovation and advancement in technology which would mean the list frequently becomes out of date.

***

**Source:** [ESMA original document](https://www.esma.europa.eu/publications-data/questions-answers/1771)