Yes, dashcams are legal in Portugal, provided they comply with national data protection and traffic regulations. The Comissão Nacional de Proteção de Dados (CNPD) oversees privacy compliance, while the Autoridade Nacional de Segurança Rodoviária (ANSR) enforces traffic-specific rules. Recordings must not infringe GDPR principles, particularly regarding consent and proportionality. Failure to adhere risks fines up to €10,000 under Law No. 58/2019.
Key Regulations for Dashcams in Portugal
- Data Minimization & Purpose Limitation: Recordings must solely document traffic incidents; continuous surveillance of pedestrians or third parties without legitimate cause violates Article 5(1)(c) of the GDPR. CNPD guidance explicitly prohibits dashcams as “always-on” privacy-invasive tools.
- Storage & Retention: Footage may not be retained beyond necessary for legal disputes or insurance claims. ANSR mandates deletion within 30 days unless required for litigation, per Regulamento (UE) 2016/679.
- Third-Party Consent: Capturing identifiable individuals (e.g., passengers, pedestrians) without prior notice breaches Lei da Proteção de Dados Pessoais. CNPD’s 2023 circular clarifies that blurred faces or audio suppression do not absolve liability.
Critical Compliance Note: Post-2026, Portugal’s alignment with the EU Data Act may introduce stricter cloud-storage protocols for dashcam data, necessitating encrypted, EU-based servers. ANSR’s 2024 draft amendments further restrict dashcam use in urban zones to prevent “mass surveillance” under Decreto-Lei n.º 102/2023. Always verify real-time updates via Portal da Justiça or CNPD’s official rulings.