Yes, dashcams are legal in India but subject to strict privacy and data protection norms under multiple statutes. Their use is permitted if recordings comply with the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Personal Data Protection Bill (2023), which mandates consent for third-party dissemination. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has not explicitly banned dashcams but warns against obstructing traffic or violating the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Recent 2026 draft rules propose mandatory encryption for in-vehicle cameras to curb misuse.
Key Regulations for Dashcams in India
- Privacy Compliance: Recordings must exclude identifiable individuals without explicit consent under the draft Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP), 2023. Unauthorized sharing of footage risks penalties up to ₹500 crore.
- Traffic & Road Safety: Dashcams cannot obstruct the driver’s view or violate Rule 10 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, which prohibits modifications impairing visibility. Mounting must not protrude beyond the vehicle’s width.
- Data Retention & Disclosure: MoRTH’s 2026 guidelines require dashcam data to be stored for 90 days and disclosed only to law enforcement via formal requests under Section 69 of the IT Act. Unauthorized access to stored data is punishable under Section 66E.