Can I film my neighbours?
As a rule no — and from two directions at once. Anyone who films an identifiable person processes personal data (GDPR/DSG) as soon as the purpose goes beyond the purely family sphere — and security or securing evidence always does. At the same time the Persons and Companies Act (PGR, Art. 38 ff.) protects personality: the person filmed can assert a violation of personality by private action. The myth: "There is a right to your own image, as in Germany or Switzerland." Not like that — Liechtenstein has neither the German KUG nor Art. 28 of the Swiss ZGB, but its own norms. Secret image recordings from the private or secret sphere are moreover punishable under the Secret Sphere Act (LR 311.3).
📋 The rules
- Filming is data processing: if a person is identifiable, GDPR and the DSG apply. The household exemption covers only purely private, unpublished recordings — security or securing evidence as a purpose excludes it, per the Data Protection Office.
- Personality protection under PGR Art. 38 ff.: beyond data protection law, the Persons and Companies Act protects personality. The person filmed can assert a violation of personality — enforced by private action, not through the Data Protection Office.
- Secret image recording is punishable (Secret Sphere Act Art. 3, LR 311.3): if the recording captures a fact from the secret sphere or a fact from the private sphere not readily accessible to everyone, that is punishable. It is an offence prosecuted only on the application of the injured party.
- Sound makes it worse (§ 120 StGB / Secret Sphere Act Art. 1 and 2): anyone who records a non-public utterance additionally makes themselves punishable. Filming with sound therefore stacks data-protection, personality and criminal risks.
- Publishing tips everything: anyone who puts the recording online leaves the household exemption entirely and needs a legal basis under Art. 6 GDPR. The Data Protection Office states: recordings for security and evidence purposes precisely do not serve purely personal ends.
🔓 Exceptions
- The genuine family circle: private, unpublished recordings among family and friends fall under the household exemption. The moment the purpose is security or evidence, or the recording is shared, the exemption is gone.
- Overview without identifiability: wide-angle or landscape shots on which no person is determinable process no personal data. As soon as you deliberately take a person into the frame, the assessment tips.
- The wrong models from DE and CH: many rely on the German KUG or Art. 28 ZGB of Switzerland. Liechtenstein has its own bases — PGR Art. 38 ff. and the Secret Sphere Act — the same idea, but different paragraphs.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The person filmed can proceed by private action under PGR Art. 38 ff.: injunction, removal and destruction of the recordings, damages and satisfaction. Secret image recordings from the private or secret sphere are punishable under Art. 3 of the Secret Sphere Act — as an offence prosecuted on application. If sound is added, § 120 StGB threatens up to one year, and the Secret Sphere Act up to three years for a conversation of others (Art. 1) or up to one year as a participant (Art. 2). Anyone who publishes the recording additionally risks GDPR fines and a complaint to the Data Protection Office. Not obvious: the argument "only to secure evidence" does not help — precisely this purpose removes your household exemption, and the recording device can be seized.
📎 Official sources
- LILEX — Persons and Companies Act (PGR), Art. 38 ff., Secret Sphere Act (LR 311.3) and StGB § 120 (legal register) →
- Data Protection Office Liechtenstein — household exemption, protection of personality and publication (home) →
- Princely Courts / Landgericht — competent for private action and protection of personality (home) →
❓ Frequently asked
May I film my neighbour to secure evidence?
Precisely not, because the purpose of securing evidence excludes the household exemption and makes GDPR and PGR apply. The neighbour can assert a violation of personality, and secret recordings from the private sphere are punishable.
Is there a right to your own image in Liechtenstein?
Not in the form known from Germany or Switzerland, because the KUG and Art. 28 ZGB do not apply here. The protection instead follows from PGR Art. 38 ff. and the Secret Sphere Act — the same idea, but different paragraphs.
What applies if I film only from my own property?
The location of the camera changes nothing if an identifiable person or their private sphere is captured. Even from your property you may not take the neighbour into the frame without violating their personality rights.
Is secret filming punishable?
Yes, the Secret Sphere Act penalizes image recordings from the secret and private sphere, and for sound § 120 StGB and Art. 1 to 2 of the same act apply. These offences are, however, prosecuted only on the application of the injured party.
May I put the video of the neighbour online?
With that you leave the household exemption entirely and need your own legal basis under Art. 6 GDPR. Otherwise GDPR fines threaten, as well as civil claims for an injunction, destruction and damages.
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