federal judge has overturned an Oregon law that criminalizes the recording of someone without their consent on the grounds that it violates the First Amendment.

In a 2-1 ruling by a Ninth Circuit panel, Judge Sandra Ikuta declared Oregon law 165.540 unconstitutional because the state does not have an obligation to protect people’s privacy in public places.

First passed in 1955, the law was later expanded to include the secret recording of conversations. It does, however, contain exceptions for law enforcement and other specific interest groups.