Scanner (radio) laws by country

United States of America: It is illegal to receive or listen to cellular phone frequencies in the 800 MHz band, or to cordless phone calls, and to use information gained from listening to a scanner in furtherance of the commission of a crime. It is also illegal to use for personal gain information obtained from any radio transmissions not intended for public reception, or to disclose such information to a third party. Several states have laws further restricting the use of scanners. For example, in Minnesota, the mobile use of a scanner in an automobile by anybody other than a police officer, a licensed amateur radio operator, or the holder of a permit from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is illegal.

New Zealand: According to the [Act 1989] It is legal to possess and use a scanner at any time to tune to any private voice radio (not encrypted data) provided that private information is not passed on or disclosed to any other person(s) or party(s).

Australia: It is legal to possess a scanner. It is legal to listen to any transmission that is not classified as telecommunication (i.e. anything not connected to the telephone network).

Mexico: It is legal to have an unlocked scanner and listen to any radio spectrum frequencies including encrypted and cellular band. But according to the [Federal Law of General Ways of Communication] it is restricted to any individual to spread information obtained on a mass media.

United Kingdom: The Wireless Telegraphy Act in relation to scanning essentially makes it an offence for any person to 'intercept' any message of which he or she is not the intended recipient.