Yes, one-party consent recording is legal in Chile under specific conditions. The Ley N° 19.733 (Data Protection Law) and Código Penal Article 161C permit recordings if at least one party consents, provided it does not infringe privacy or violate constitutional rights. However, public officials and journalists face stricter scrutiny under Ley de Prensa (Press Law) and Ley de Protección de Datos Personales (2026 amendments pending).
Key Regulations for One-Party Consent Recording in Chile
- Privacy Protection: Recordings must not capture private communications without legitimate interest (Art. 161C, Código Penal). Unauthorized dissemination of recorded content may trigger civil liability under Ley N° 19.733.
- Public Officials & Journalists: Media professionals must adhere to Ley de Prensa (Decreto Ley N° 1.204), requiring prior notice to subjects in investigative reporting unless public interest outweighs privacy.
- Workplace & Consent: Employers recording employees must comply with Ley N° 21.015 (Labor Code amendments), mandating transparency and proportionality in monitoring systems.