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Sweden Recording Laws: One-Party Consent, GDPR & AI Rules (2026)

By Recording Law Editorial Team25 min read
Sweden Recording Laws: One-Party Consent, GDPR & AI Rules (2026)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I legally record a phone call in Sweden without telling the other person?

Yes. Under Brottsbalken Chapter 4, Section 9a, you can record any phone call you participate in without informing the other person. This one-party consent rule applies to all conversations where you are an active participant. However, if you are recording in a business capacity, GDPR and Sweden's Dataskyddslagen (2018:218) require you to notify the other party and state the purpose of the recording.

What happens if I record a conversation I am not part of in Sweden?

Recording a conversation you are not participating in is a criminal offense under Brottsbalken Chapter 4, Section 9a (olovlig avlyssning). The penalty is fines or imprisonment for up to two years. Installing a device with the intent to eavesdrop is also criminal under Section 9b, carrying the same penalty range. Victims must report the offense before prosecutors can proceed unless prosecution is in the public interest.

Can my employer record audio at my workplace in Sweden?

Generally, no. IMY has stated that recording sound is generally not permitted at a workplace, even where video surveillance is justified. Before installing any video surveillance of employees, employers must complete co-determination negotiations with trade unions under Medbestämmandelagen (1976:580) §§11-14. Video surveillance is permitted only for limited purposes such as theft prevention or monitoring hazardous processes, and audio must not be recorded.

Are secretly recorded conversations admissible as evidence in Swedish courts?

Yes. Swedish courts follow the principle of free evaluation of evidence (fri bevisvärdering), meaning there are no automatic exclusionary rules. A recording is admissible even if it was obtained in violation of BrB 4 kap. 9a §. The person who made an illegal recording may face criminal charges, but the recording itself is not excluded from proceedings.

Is it legal to film police officers in Sweden?

Yes. Sweden's Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression (Yttrandefrihetsgrundlagen, 1991:1469) protects the right to produce and disseminate technical recordings. No provision of Brottsbalken Chapter 4 prohibits filming police officers performing their duties in public spaces. BrB 4 kap. 9a § applies only to recording private conversations where the recorder is not a participant. If you post the recording online, GDPR may apply to its distribution, though public-interest exemptions typically cover journalism.

What is olaga integritetsintrång and when does it apply?

Olaga integritetsintrång (BrB 4 kap. 6c §) criminalizes distributing images or information about a person's sexual life, health, crime victimhood, vulnerable situation, or naked body when distribution is liable to cause the person serious harm. It is the primary Swedish statute addressing non-consensual intimate image sharing (sometimes called revenge porn). The aggravated form (BrB 4 kap. 6d §) carries a prison sentence of 6 months to 4 years.

Does Swedish law cover deepfakes or AI-generated impersonation?

Yes, partially. BrB 4 kap. 6b § (olovlig identitetsanvändning) criminalizes impersonating another person by unlawfully using their identity information and causing them harm or inconvenience. This applies to AI-generated audio or video used to impersonate real individuals. Additionally, the EU AI Act (Regulation EU 2024/1689) Article 50 requires visible labeling of AI-generated deepfakes, with full enforcement from August 2, 2026. Sweden's national adaptation legislation (SOU 2025:101) is pending.

What is the difference between GDPR and Dataskyddslagen in Sweden?

GDPR (Regulation EU 2016/679) applies directly in all EU member states and sets the core data protection rules. Sweden's Dataskyddslagen (SFS 2018:218) is a national complementary law that fills gaps where GDPR allows member states to set their own rules, including provisions on public-authority processing and employment-context sensitive data. For most private recording scenarios, GDPR's requirements are primary; Dataskyddslagen supplements in specific areas. IMY (Integritetsskyddsmyndigheten) enforces both.

How did Sweden's camera surveillance law change in 2025?

The Riksdag voted on March 12, 2025, to remove the permit requirement for camera surveillance, effective April 1, 2025. Organizations no longer need IMY approval before installing cameras. Instead, they must conduct a documented legitimate-interest assessment before installation, maintain a surveillance register, and comply fully with GDPR. Law enforcement also gained expanded authority for camera surveillance and automatic number plate recognition technology.

If I record a call with someone in Germany, which country's law applies?

Swedish criminal law permits the recording because you are a participant (BrB 4 kap. 9a §). However, Germany requires all-party consent under §201 StGB, and the German participant may have civil or criminal recourse in German courts regardless of Swedish law. For business calls with EU residents, GDPR applies to your recording regardless of the other party's location. The safest practice for cross-border business calls is to notify all parties at the start of the call.

Updates

Governing law re-checked for recent changes

This May 15, 2026 refresh added new sections covering the Quick Answer, the EU AI Act and deepfakes, voyeurism and intimate images under Brottsbalken Chapter 4, Sections 6a, 6c, and 6d, civil liability, cross border recording, recording police, and deepfake and AI identity impersonation. It layered the Dataskyddslagen (2018:218) into the GDPR discussion and added the MBL (1976:580) Sections 11 through 14 co-determination obligation to the workplace section. The penalties table was expanded to cover Sections 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d, and the article added coverage of EU AI Act Article 50 (Regulation EU 2024/1689), which takes effect in August 2026, along with Sweden national AI Act adaptation under SOU 2025:101. The state surveillance section was updated to confirm that secret coercive measures targeting children under 15 took effect October 1, 2025, and the data retention bill status was updated to note it remained in the legislative process as of May 2026. The refresh also added IMY enforcement figures from 2025 and 2026, including fines of SEK 35 million against Trygg-Hansa, SEK 37 million against Apoteket, and SEK 6 million against Sportadmin. The page title was updated from Sweden Recording Laws: One-Party Consent Rules and Penalties (2026) to Sweden Recording Laws: One-Party Consent, GDPR and AI Rules (2026), and the meta description was updated to reflect the expanded scope. Finally, a section numbering correction confirmed via riksdagen.se that Section 6b, not Section 6d, is olovlig identitetsanvandning (unlawful identity use), while Section 6d is grovt olaga integritetsintrang (aggravated unlawful privacy violation), and the article now uses the correct numbering throughout.

Sources and References

  1. Brottsbalk (1962:700) - Swedish Criminal Code, Chapters 4 and 5(riksdagen.se).gov
  2. The Swedish Criminal Code - English Translation (Ds 1999:36)(regeringen.se).gov
  3. Dataskyddslagen (SFS 2018:218)(riksdagen.se).gov
  4. Lag (2022:482) om elektronisk kommunikation (LEK)(riksdagen.se).gov
  5. Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression (Yttrandefrihetsgrundlagen 1991:1469)(riksdagen.se).gov
  6. Extended Opportunities to Use Video Surveillance - Riksdag March 2025(riksdagen.se).gov
  7. Secret and Preventive Coercive Measures for Children Under 15 - Riksdag September 2025(riksdagen.se).gov
  8. Proposition 2015/16:150 - Straftrattsligt skydd mot olovlig identitetsanvandning(riksdagen.se).gov
  9. Proposition 2012/13:69 - Krankande fotografering(riksdagen.se).gov
  10. New Rules to Prevent Slow Processing of IMY Complaints - Riksdag March 2025(riksdagen.se).gov
  11. SOU 2025:101 - Anpassningar till AI-forordningen(regeringen.se).gov
  12. IMY - Video Surveillance for Organisations(imy.se).gov
  13. IMY - Video Surveillance of Employees (MBL co-determination requirements)(imy.se).gov
  14. IMY - Administrative Fine SEK 35 Million Against Trygg-Hansa(imy.se).gov
  15. IMY - Administrative Fines Against Apoteket and Apohem(imy.se).gov
  16. IMY - Artificial Intelligence Guidance(imy.se).gov
  17. EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) - Regulation EU 2016/679(eur-lex.europa.eu).gov
  18. EU AI Act - Regulation EU 2024/1689(eur-lex.europa.eu).gov
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