Olovlig avlyssning
Olovlig avlyssning is the offence in chapter 4, section 9a of the Swedish Penal Code. It covers secretly listening to or recording, with a technical aid, private speech, conversations between other people, or a non-public meeting when the recorder does not participate or has improperly obtained access.
Participation is therefore a central element. The offence is not a general ban on recording every conversation without notice; the statutory wording specifically distinguishes conversations between others from one in which the recorder participates. Other rules may still apply to images, workplace monitoring, personal-data processing, disclosure, or harassment.
Covert recording and evidence in Sweden places this offence beside Kränkande fotografering and the separate procedural rules governing evidence.