GDPR + notice

Call Recording Laws in Finland

Europe · Last updated June 9, 2026

In Finland, a party to a call may record it, but recording for business means processing personal data — so the GDPR requires a lawful basis and that you inform participants.

Governing law: EU GDPR, Finnish Data Protection Act (1050/2018), and the Criminal Code (secret listening provisions); overseen by the Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman.

What the law says

  • A participant in a conversation may record it; secretly recording a discussion you are not part of can be a criminal offence.
  • Recording for business purposes processes personal data, so you need a GDPR lawful basis and must inform participants.
  • Tell participants the call is recorded and why before recording begins.
  • Apply data minimisation, a defined retention period, and security controls to stored recordings.

Recording business & sales calls

Finnish companies recording sales or support calls generally rely on legitimate interest, announce the recording at the start, and document purpose and retention. Make sure participants know how to exercise their data-subject rights.

Penalties for getting it wrong

GDPR infringements can lead to administrative fines up to €20 million or 4% of global annual turnover; unlawful secret recording can also be a criminal offence under the Criminal Code.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to record phone calls in Finland?

A party to the call may record it, but for business use you must comply with the GDPR: have a lawful basis and inform participants that the call is recorded.

Can I record a call I am part of in Finland without telling the other person?

As a private individual party to the call you may record it, but a business processing the recording must still inform participants and meet GDPR requirements.

Record calls compliantly with Teneks

Teneks records, transcribes, and analyzes calls with recording notices, access controls, and retention settings — so your team captures every conversation while staying on the right side of the rules. See how we handle data on our security page, or read the Baltic & Nordic recording guide.

Book a demoAll jurisdictions

This page is general information, not legal advice. Call recording and data protection rules change and depend on your specific situation. Confirm the current rules with a qualified lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction before recording.