Can I film a police officer in a public place?
Yes — you may film a police officer performing official duties in a public place, and the officer cannot order you to switch off the camera, seize your phone or demand that you delete the recording. The law does not prohibit recording a check carried out in public, and video often protects both sides from unfounded accusations. The popular myth that "an officer may not be filmed without consent" is wrong — a public official performing duties in a public space reasonably expects reduced privacy. But the key point people miss: filming and publishing the footage are not the same thing. The officer's image is protected by the right to one's image (Civil Code Article 2.22), so posting the recording online may require blurring the face or relying on a legitimate public interest. You also may not obstruct the officer — interfering or scuffling already carries liability. The safest course is to film without interfering and to consider anonymising before you publish.
📋 The rules
- An officer on duty in public may be filmed without separate permission
- The officer cannot order you to switch off the camera, seize your phone or delete the footage
- You may not obstruct the officer — interfering carries liability
- Publishing the footage is limited by the right to one's image (Civil Code Art. 2.22) and data protection
- When posting, you may need to anonymise the officer or rely on a legitimate public interest
🔓 Exceptions
- Filming secret or restricted-access sites (e.g. classified buildings) may be prohibited
- Journalistic and public-interest activity enjoys broader exemptions for using images
- Using the footage for defamation or threats triggers civil or criminal liability
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Filming itself carries no liability, but the limits begin with obstruction and publication. If while filming you interfere with the officer's work, ignore lawful orders or scuffle, you face administrative liability for obstructing an officer, and resisting can become criminal. What people miss: even lawfully recorded footage, once posted online without a basis, can prompt the officer to claim a breach of the right to their image or privacy, demand removal and seek compensation for non-pecuniary damage. Publishing a video that shows identifiable people can also raise data-protection (GDPR) questions, and the State Data Protection Inspectorate may impose measures. If the recording is edited or presented so as to mislead and damage a person's honour, liability for defamation or insult arises. So the safest course is to film without interfering and to consider anonymising before publishing.
📎 Official sources
- e-seimas · Civil Code, Art. 2.22 (right to one's image) →
- Lithuanian Police · data protection and rights →
- State Data Protection Inspectorate · publishing video recordings →
❓ Frequently asked
Can an officer order me to delete the recording?
No, an officer has no right to order you to stop filming, seize your phone or demand deletion of footage made in a public place. Such a demand would be unlawful, and the recording often becomes important evidence for you and for the officer when the incident is assessed.
Can I upload the footage to the internet?
You cannot always publish the footage, because the officer's image is protected by the right to one's image, so you may need to blur the face or justify a public interest. If you publish it unlawfully, the officer can demand removal and claim compensation for non-pecuniary damage.
Can I come right up to the officer while filming?
You must film without interfering, so you may not get involved in the action, come so close that you hinder the work, or ignore a lawful instruction to keep your distance. Otherwise you can face liability for obstructing an officer, even if the filming itself was lawful.
Can I film the officer when I am stopped while driving?
Yes, a stopped driver has the right to film the check, because it takes place in a public place and helps record how both sides behave. However, this does not release you from the duty to hand over your documents and comply with the officer's lawful requests.
Can the officer film me without my consent?
Yes, the police may use body cameras and other recording devices for official activity, and no separate consent is required. Such recording is based on legislation, and the recordings are used and stored in line with data-protection requirements.
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