Yes, scraping public data in the Czech Republic is generally permissible, provided it complies with EU and local legal frameworks. The Office for Personal Data Protection (ÚOOÚ) and the Civil Code (No. 89/2012 Sb.) permit access to publicly available information, but automated collection must avoid violating privacy or copyright protections. Recent 2026 amendments to the Electronic Communications Act (No. 127/2005 Sb.) introduce stricter guidelines for large-scale data harvesting, requiring prior notification for datasets exceeding 10,000 records.
Key Regulations for Scraping Public Data in Czech Republic
- GDPR Compliance (EU Regulation 2016/679): Public data containing personal identifiers (e.g., names, emails) triggers GDPR obligations, including lawful basis for processing and data subject rights. ÚOOÚ enforces strict penalties for non-compliance, with fines up to €20 million or 4% of global turnover.
- Copyright Act (No. 121/2000 Sb.): Scraping copyrighted content (e.g., government reports, databases) without permission violates §2 of the Act. Exceptions apply only for non-commercial, transformative use under fair dealing principles.
- Act on Free Access to Information (No. 106/1999 Sb.): While public sector data is accessible, automated scraping must not disrupt services or circumvent technical protections (e.g., CAPTCHAs). The 2026 amendment mandates API-based access for high-volume requests to prevent server overload.
Failure to adhere to these rules risks administrative sanctions, civil litigation, or criminal liability under the Criminal Code (No. 40/2009 Sb.) for unauthorized data aggregation. Entities must conduct due diligence on data sources and implement safeguards to anonymize personal data where applicable.