Is it legal to film the police? Rights, Limits, and Criminal Liability Risks
Smartphones are everywhere—even at traffic stops, demonstrations, or arrests. Time and again, bystanders or those directly involved pull out their cell phone cameras to record police actions. In practice, this regularly leads to tension: officers demand that filming stop, order people to leave, or, in extreme cases, even confiscate the cell phone. But what is the legal situation in Switzerland really? Is it allowed to film police operations, or does doing so make you liable to prosecution?
This article clarifies where democratic oversight of government action ends and criminal liability begins.