Butt Dial Ethics
We have all gotten a voicemail that is clearly due to a mistake made by a re-dial that went to voicemail. As you listen to the voicemail, there is a moment about 3 seconds in where you realize the call was not intentional, and the person who called you may reveal private information that was never intended for you to hear. At that moment, you have a choice to make...Of course your curiosity starts to run wild. "oooh, I wonder what juicy things will hear? Let's see if they say anything about me. I hope I can get some leverage over this business deal by hearing them talk about a competing bid" - You did not ask for it, but you are forced to make a decision. My recommendation to you is this. IMMEDIATELY when you realize it was a butt dial, stop listening, stop the recording!!
Ok...NOW you have the ability to make a more pro-active, reasoned choice. There may be very good reasons why you do not want to listen to what may be on that recording. Some of them may actually be legal reasons. But...the key is that you now have control over the situation. You get to calmly, deliberately, and thoughfully CHOOSE to listen to the message, if that is the direction you go. If you just keep listening, you will lose control to someone else's mistake - and when you receive that information, you may end up in a summary briefing such as:
"Both the pocket dialer and his wife sued the eavesdropper under federal laws prohibiting the intentional interception of oral communications. The district court granted summary judgment against the plaintiffs. "
Make it a habit: Hang up IMMEDIATELY when you know a voicemail is a pocket dial. If it is a live call, hang up. You know you would want someone else to do the same for you.