(Washington, DC) -- The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a challenge to Oregon's law banning secret audio recordings of in-person conversations, leaving the state's privacy protections intact. The decision upholds a Ninth Circuit ruling that dismissed Project Veritas' lawsuit claiming the law violated First Amendment rights. Oregon's statute requires all parties to consent to in-person recordings, with limited exceptions for emergencies or law enforcement. The Oregon Department of Justice says the ruling reaffirms residents' right to control how their words are shared, while Project Veritas and free speech advocates argue the law restricts investigative journalism.