Yes, recording phone calls is legal in Greece under strict conditions. The Hellenic Data Protection Authority (HDPA) permits recordings if at least one party consents, aligning with GDPR and Law 4624/2019. Unilateral consent suffices for personal use, but third-party disclosure requires explicit agreement. Violations may trigger fines up to €20 million or 4% of global turnover.
Key Regulations for Recording Phone Calls in Greece
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Consent Requirement: Law 4624/2019 mandates prior consent from at least one party for recordings. Implied consent (e.g., verbal acknowledgment) is insufficient without clear disclosure. The HDPA enforces this under GDPR’s Article 6(1)(f) for legitimate interests, but balancing tests apply.
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Purpose Limitation: Recordings must serve a specific, lawful purpose (e.g., evidence in litigation). Secondary uses, such as marketing or sharing without consent, violate Article 5(1)(b) of GDPR. The HDPA’s 2024 guidelines emphasize proportionality in retention periods.
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Third-Party Disclosure: Sharing recordings with external entities (e.g., authorities, employers) requires explicit, documented consent from all parties. Unauthorized disclosure under Law 2472/1997 may result in criminal liability, including imprisonment up to 3 years.
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Technical Safeguards: Encryption and access controls are mandatory for stored recordings. The HDPA’s 2026 draft amendments propose stricter audit trails for corporate recordings, aligning with NIS2 Directive requirements.
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Workplace Context: Employers may record calls only for legitimate business needs (e.g., quality control) and must notify employees via collective agreements or policies. The Supreme Civil and Criminal Court (Areios Pagos) ruled in 2023 that blanket surveillance violates worker privacy.