Can my camera film the neighbour's yard in Finland?
No — the neighbour's domestic sphere is off-limits to cameras. The Criminal Code's illicit-observation provision protects the domestic sphere: unauthorised technical watching or filming of a neighbour's yard, terrace, windows or door is a crime punishable by fines or up to a year in prison. Drone peeking counts too. If your own camera inevitably catches a slice of their side, crop the view or use masking — a technical fix beats a criminal case.
📋 The rules
- The protected domestic sphere (yard, terrace, windows, door) is the core of the provision — unauthorised technical viewing or recording is a crime.
- Beyond fixed cameras the ban covers drone filming, trail cameras and recorded spotting.
- An incidental passing view isn't a crime — the offence requires observation directed at the protected area.
- Masking and view-cropping are the lawful way to run a camera near the boundary — document the settings.
- The public road outside their house isn't domestic sphere — but broad street surveillance is a data-protection issue.
🔓 Exceptions
- Protecting your own property on a shared lane can brush their area — acceptability turns on purpose and cropping.
- The neighbour's explicit consent removes the unlawfulness — get it in writing.
⚠️ Penalties
Illicit observation: fines or up to 1 year; preparation can be punishable in certain settings. Add compensation for suffering — and the camera can be forfeited.
📎 Sources
- Finlex · Criminal Code 24:6 — illicit observation →
- Data Protection Ombudsman · Limits of camera surveillance →
- Minilex · Illicit observation and neighbours →
❓ Frequently asked questions
My camera sees the neighbour's door at an angle — a crime?
Risk zone: when protected sphere gets recorded and cropping was possible, unlawfulness fills easily. Mask the area or turn the camera.
Can I film the neighbour as dispute evidence?
What happens in your own yard may be recorded — filming aimed at their yard, even for evidence, is illicit observation.
Flying a drone over their yard?
The overflight may satisfy aviation rules, but filming the yard is illicit observation — and repeated, harassment of domestic peace.
What if the neighbour films me?
Demand a stop in writing, document the camera and angle, and file a police report for illicit observation.
🔎 What people search
Searches that lead to this question.
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