DependsSurveillance

Is it legal to recording phone calls in Denmark?

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Short answer: DependsRow state: verifiedSurveillance

Quick answer

Depends
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Last verified: 2026-04-04Sources verified

Legal position

Current starter summary

Official Danish sources say business call recording is governed by the general data-protection rules, and secret listening to or recording telephone calls between other people is prohibited.

Conditions

What would need to be true

A participant may record a call they take part in, or where at least one participant has consented; organisations must assess necessity, lawful basis, information duties, retention and whether consent is needed.

Exceptions

Known carve-outs or edge cases

Without a sufficient documentation need or another valid basis, Datatilsynet says organisations should consider whether consent is required.

Penalties

Penalty snapshot

Specific penalties depend on the exact offence and circumstances.

Enforcement

How this may be enforced

Police can enforce the criminal law, and Datatilsynet can enforce data-protection rules for recorded calls containing personal data.

More rules in Denmark

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Brass knuckles in Denmark are permit-controlled strike weapons. Official Danish weapons rules prohibit acquiring brass knuckles without police permission, and Danish police say knojern require a permit that is given only exceptionally and under very special circumstances.

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Compare this activity in other countries

This makes the rule page useful for comparison without creating a second data source.

Australia

Australia does not have a single clean national yes or no answer for recording phone calls because the OAIC says relevant state and territory laws apply and specifically notes laws covering the monitoring and recording of telephone conversations.

UnclearSurveillance

Austria

Austria’s criminal-law rule on recording non-public speech can apply to call recording, so there is no clean national yes or no without checking consent and legal authority.

DependsSurveillance

Belgium

Belgium's data protection authority says it is in principle prohibited to record electronic conversations, including professional phone conversations, unless a recognized exception applies.

DependsSurveillance

Canada

Recording a phone call in Canada is not a flat yes or no because a private communication cannot be knowingly intercepted unless one of the parties consents or another legal exception applies.

DependsSurveillance

About this row

Canonical dataset status

Country hubDenmark
Topic hubSurveillance
Row stateverified

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