Is Two-Party Consent Recording Legal in Colombia After the 2026 Framework Overhaul?

Yes, Two-party consent recording is legal in Colombia under strict conditions. The 2012 Ley de Habeas Data (Law 1581) and Código Penal (Article 192) require all parties’ consent for recordings used as evidence, with unauthorized interception punishable by up to 8 years imprisonment. The Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio (SIC) enforces compliance, particularly for commercial recordings.


  • Explicit Consent Requirement: Article 192 of the Código Penal criminalizes recording conversations without prior consent from all participants. Violations may lead to criminal charges, fines, or civil liability under Ley 1581.
  • Commercial & Public Contexts: The Ley de Protección al Consumidor (Law 1480) mandates clear disclosure for telemarketing or customer service recordings. The Ministerio de Tecnologías de la Información (MinTIC) regulates electronic communications, including automated call recordings.
  • Evidentiary Standards: Recordings must be obtained in compliance with Código de Procedimiento Civil (Article 242) to be admissible in court. Unauthorized recordings are deemed illegal and may be excluded as evidence.

Enforcement & Penalties: The Fiscalía General de la Nación prosecutes violations, with penalties escalating for repeated or large-scale breaches. Since 2023, the SIC has intensified audits on companies failing to disclose recording practices, aligning with 2026 GDPR-inspired data protection reforms.