Can you record a phone call in Finland?
You may record a call you take part in without telling the other person. Finnish criminal law only punishes recording speech not meant for you, or unlawfully intercepting messages. A business must tell callers before recording, under data protection law.
- Phone calls
- Chapter 24, section 5 of the Criminal Code (eavesdropping) covers using a technical device to record speech not meant for you. A conversation you take part in is meant for you, so recording it is not eavesdropping. Chapter 38, section 3 (secrecy of communications) covers unlawfully obtaining the content of calls. The Act on Electronic Communications Services (section 136) lets a party to a call process their own communications.
- Business calls
- Under the GDPR and the Finnish Data Protection Act, a business or employer must tell the people on the call before recording, have a legal basis and a clear purpose, and keep recordings no longer than needed. Callers can ask for a copy of their recording. In a 2026 case before the Data Protection Ombudsman, the company accepted that this right applies even to callers without a customer account.
- What counts as consent
- Tell people before recording starts, with the purpose and where to read more, for example in a short announcement at the start of the call. A private person recording their own calls for personal use has no duty to announce it.
- Penalties
- Eavesdropping: a fine or up to 1 year in prison. Violating the secrecy of communications: a fine or up to 2 years. GDPR fines go up to EUR 20 million or 4% of turnover.
Say this at the start
Telling everyone and asking is the safe habit everywhere.
- English
Before we start: I record my calls so I can keep accurate notes. Is that OK with you?
- Finnish
Ennen kuin aloitamme: tallennan puheluni, jotta saan niistä tarkat muistiinpanot. Sopiiko se teille?
- Swedish
Innan vi börjar: jag spelar in mina samtal för att kunna föra noggranna anteckningar. Går det bra?
Worth knowing
- The eavesdropping section still has its 2000 wording in the consolidated Criminal Code of September 2026; the secrecy of communications section was last amended in 2015.
Sources
Checked on 14 October 2026. A plain summary of the law, not legal advice.
- Rikoslaki 39/1889 (Criminal Code), Finlexstatute
- Laki sähköisen viestinnän palveluista 917/2014 (Act on Electronic Communications Services), section 136, Finlexstatute
- Data Protection Ombudsman decision 4930/163/2020: informing callers that calls are recorded, Finlexregulator
- Data Protection Ombudsman decision 34/2026: access to a call recording, Finlexregulator
Other countries
More free tools
Questions
Is Finland a one-party consent country?
Yes. You may record a call you take part in without telling the other person. Finnish criminal law only punishes recording speech not meant for you, or unlawfully intercepting messages. A business must tell callers before recording, under data protection law.
Can a business record calls in Finland?
Under the GDPR and the Finnish Data Protection Act, a business or employer must tell the people on the call before recording, have a legal basis and a clear purpose, and keep recordings no longer than needed. Callers can ask for a copy of their recording. In a 2026 case before the Data Protection Ombudsman, the company accepted that this right applies even to callers without a customer account.
What counts as consent in Finland?
Tell people before recording starts, with the purpose and where to read more, for example in a short announcement at the start of the call. A private person recording their own calls for personal use has no duty to announce it.
What happens if you record a call illegally in Finland?
Eavesdropping: a fine or up to 1 year in prison. Violating the secrecy of communications: a fine or up to 2 years. GDPR fines go up to EUR 20 million or 4% of turnover.
Hang up. The notes are done.
Superscribe records your business calls on the number you already have and writes the note when you hang up. You say one line at the start, and it does the rest.
