Am I allowed to record a conversation in Denmark?
Yes — you can record a conversation you take part in yourself, even without telling the others. It is not a breach of Penal Code §263 to record your own conversation. However, it is illegal to secretly eavesdrop on or record a conversation you are not part of. Sharing or publishing the recording is a separate question: playing it to outsiders can affect privacy under Penal Code §264 d. If the recording contains personal data, the data-protection rules also apply. So you must actually take part in the conversation, and you must be careful about sharing it on.
📋 The rules
- Legal to record a conversation you take part in
- Not a breach of Penal Code §263
- Illegal to eavesdrop on a conversation you are not part of
- Sharing the recording is a separate question
- Data-protection rules apply with personal data
🔓 Exceptions
- A participant can consent to the conversation being recorded
- Publishing the recording can affect privacy under Penal Code §264 d
- You must actually take part in the conversation, not just listen in
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Illegal eavesdropping under Penal Code §263 can bring a fine or up to 6 months prison, more in serious cases. Unlawful publication is punished separately.
📎 Official sources
- Legaldesk · May I record a conversation →
- Penal Code §263 · Retsinformation →
- Data Protection Authority · Audio recordings →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I record a conversation I am part of?
Yes. It is not a breach of Penal Code §263 to record a conversation you take part in, even without saying so.
Can I record a conversation I am not part of?
No. It is illegal to secretly eavesdrop on or record a conversation you are not part of.
Can I share the recording?
Not automatically. Publishing it can affect privacy under Penal Code §264 d, and data-protection rules can apply.
What is the penalty for illegal eavesdropping?
A fine or up to 6 months prison under Penal Code §263, more in serious cases.
Must I take part in the conversation?
Yes. You must actually take part in the conversation for it to be legal to record it.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “can I record a conversation denmark”
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- “share audio recording”
- “record phone call”
- “secret recording penalty”