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Czech Republic Recording Laws: One-Party Consent, GDPR, and Deepfake Rules (2026)

By Recording Law Editorial TeamReviewed May 15, 202626 min read
Czech Republic Recording Laws: One-Party Consent, GDPR, and Deepfake Rules (2026)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal to secretly record a phone call in the Czech Republic?

Yes, if you are a participant in the call. Občanský zákoník § 88(1) (Act No. 89/2012 Coll.) permits a party to record their own conversation without the other person's knowledge when the recording serves to protect a legal right or legally protected interest. There is no criminal offense for participant recording under Trestní zákoník § 182, which applies only to third-party interception of communications between other people.

Can a secretly recorded conversation be used as evidence in Czech courts?

Yes, under specific conditions established by the Ústavní soud in Case II ÚS 1774/14 (Dec. 9, 2014) and the Nejvyšší soud in Case 21 Cdo 1267/2018 (Aug. 14, 2018). Courts apply a three-step test: the recording must be relevant to the dispute, the recorded facts must not be provable through less intrusive means, and the benefit to the recording party must outweigh the privacy intrusion. When these conditions are met, the right to a fair trial prevails over the recorded person's privacy rights.

Can my employer legally record me at work in Czech Republic?

Only under narrow circumstances. Zákoník práce § 316 prohibits employers from recording employee calls or conducting covert surveillance unless a serious reason tied to the specific nature of the business exists. Even then, employers must inform employees in advance about what is being monitored, why, how, and for how long. An employer who records without meeting all three conditions faces civil liability and potential GDPR fines from the UOOU.

What happens if I share a private recording publicly in Czechia?

Sharing a recording beyond its legally justified purpose can result in civil liability under Občanský zákoník §§ 81-82 and 86. A person whose privacy was violated may seek monetary compensation, an injunction, deletion of the recording, or a public apology. If the recording contains personal data and is distributed without a lawful GDPR basis, UOOU fines of up to 20 million EUR apply. Depending on the content, Trestní zákoník §§ 183 or 191a may also apply.

Does GDPR affect personal recording rights in Czech Republic?

For individuals recording conversations for purely personal use with no commercial connection, GDPR's household exemption (Art. 2(2)(c)) generally applies, and no additional compliance is required. Businesses and organizations must identify a lawful basis for recording under GDPR Article 6, notify recorded individuals under Articles 13-14, set retention periods, and respond to data subject requests. The UOOU's 2026 inspection focus is specifically on transparency and information obligations.

Is it legal to record police in public in Czech Republic?

Yes. Občanský zákoník § 88(2) explicitly permits recording of a person who publicly acts in a matter of public interest. Police officers executing official duties in public -- issuing fines, conducting enforcement actions, or performing public stops -- fall within this exception. No consent is required. Private conversations of police officers outside their official function retain full § 86 privacy protection.

Are AI deepfakes of real people illegal in Czech Republic?

Producing or distributing AI-generated deepfake pornography of an identifiable person without their consent is a criminal offense under Trestní zákoník § 191a, effective January 1, 2026. The basic offense carries up to two years imprisonment; aggravated forms (online distribution, organized group, intent to profit) carry up to five years. Additionally, EU AI Act Article 50 requires all AI-generated content depicting real or realistic-looking people to be labeled as AI-generated, regardless of whether the content is intimate.

What rules apply when recording a call with someone in another EU country?

The Czech participant's recording conduct is governed by Czech law, which permits one-party consent recording under Občanský zákoník § 88(1). The foreign party's jurisdiction may impose different standards -- Germany, for example, generally requires all-party consent. Within the EU, GDPR harmonizes the data-protection obligations that arise after a recording is made but does not harmonize whether consent to record is required in the first place. Czech participants making cross-border calls who may need to use a recording in foreign proceedings should verify the consent rules of the destination country.

Updates

Governing law re-checked for recent changes

Sources and References

  1. The Czech Republic is a one-party consent jurisdiction. A participant in a conversation may record it without the knowle(zakonyprolidi.cz).gov
  2. The Constitutional Court (Ústavní soud) in Case No. II ÚS 1774/14 (December 9, 2014) established a three-step test for a(usoud.cz).gov
  3. The Supreme Court (Nejvyšší soud) in Case No. 21 Cdo 1267/2018 (August 14, 2018) held that secret recordings are admissi(nsoud.cz).gov
  4. Trestní zákoník § 180 (neoprávněné nakládání s osobními údaji) criminalizes the unlawful disclosure, communication, or p(zakonyprolidi.cz).gov
  5. Zákoník práce (Act No. 262/2006 Coll.) § 316 prohibits employers from monitoring employees' private telephone calls, rec(mpsv.cz).gov
  6. GDPR (Regulation (EU) 2016/679) applies in the Czech Republic with direct effect. Zákon č. 110/2019 Sb. (effective April(uoou.gov.cz).gov
  7. The UOOU imposed a fine of approximately 351 million CZK (13.9 million EUR, per EDPB confirmation) against Avast Softwar(edpb.europa.eu).gov
  8. UOOU 2025 Kontrolní plán (inspection plan) focused on the right to erasure (right to be forgotten), coordinated with the(uoou.gov.cz).gov
  9. UOOU 2026 Kontrolní plán focuses on compliance with the principle of transparency and information obligations under Regu(uoou.gov.cz).gov
  10. EU AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689) entered into force August 1, 2024. Article 50 requires providers of AI systems gen(eur-lex.europa.eu).gov
  11. State-authorized wiretapping in the Czech Republic is governed by Zákon č. 141/1961 Sb. (Code of Criminal Procedure) § 8(zakonyprolidi.cz).gov
  12. Czech Criminal Code in English (as amended 2023) -- Council of Europe(rm.coe.int)
  13. Czech DPA Imposed Fine of 351 Million CZK (13.9M EUR) for GDPR Infringement -- ÚOOÚ(uoou.gov.cz).gov
  14. Personal Data Processing Act, No. 110/2019 Coll. (English translation) -- ÚOOÚ(uoou.gov.cz).gov
  15. Ministry of Interior -- Použitelnost zvukových a obrazových záznamů jako důkazu(mv.gov.cz).gov
  16. Electronic Communications Act, No. 127/2005 Coll. -- Library of Congress Overview(loc.gov).gov
  17. Czech Civil Code, Act No. 89/2012 Coll. -- WIPO Lex(wipo.int)
  18. Czech Criminal Code, Act No. 40/2009 Coll. -- WIPO Lex(wipo.int)
  19. Forwarding Intimate Photos Now Carries Up to Five Years -- Dostupný advokát(dostupnyadvokat.cz)
  20. Secret Audio Recordings in the Workplace -- ARROWS Law Firm(arws.cz)
  21. Use of a Secretly Made Audio Record as Evidence in a Labour Dispute -- Ecovis Legal Czech Republic(ecovislegal.cz)
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