Cyprus is preparing major legislative changes as the House Transport Committee begins work on closing a long-standing legal gap that has left the use of dashcams in a grey zone.
The new bill aims to define how cameras can be installed and operated in vehicles, as well as under what conditions footage may be accepted by courts as evidence.
Lawmakers say their goal is to strike a balance between a driver’s right to document road incidents and the need for strong personal data protection. With built-in cameras becoming increasingly common in modern cars, formal regulations have become essential.
Stavros Papadouris, a representative of the Green Party, told that the draft law is ready and will be discussed next week. He noted that many vehicles—both new and used—already come with dashcams, yet their use remains entirely unregulated.
The bill will outline rules for equipment installation, how recording should be carried out, how data must be stored, and the procedure for submitting footage to law-enforcement authorities and courts. Particular emphasis is placed on GDPR compliance. For example, a camera must not obstruct the driver’s view, and recording will be allowed only in strictly defined situations.
Papadouris explained that modern dashcams are equipped with a G-sensor that detects impacts. When triggered, it automatically starts recording, capturing moments before and after an incident. This footage is stored in a protected file format and may be used in court proceedings upon judicial approval.
The new regulations are expected to help resolve a persistent problem: traffic jams caused by minor accidents where drivers refuse to move their vehicles until police arrive. With dashcam footage available, small collisions could be processed more quickly, reducing delays.
Papadouris added that the law will be useful not only for traffic incidents. Dashcams can serve as a valuable tool for investigating attempted thefts, break-ins and other crimes involving vehicles.
Special attention will be paid to how and where video data is stored. The Data Protection Commissioner will be empowered to issue directives and impose fines for violations.
Dashcam use is widespread in many countries. In the UK, USA, Canada, India, Russia and Australia, footage is commonly accepted as evidence in court.
In France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and Greece, dashcams are permitted but subject to strict personal-data protection rules, especially when footage is published.
Stricter restrictions apply in Austria, Luxembourg, Portugal and Switzerland, where dashcam use is effectively prohibited without special authorization.
In all EU countries where dashcams are allowed, one rule is universal: before publishing footage, faces and vehicle licence plates must be blurred to comply with GDPR.
The law is expected to come into force in early 2025. The Ministry of Transport is also considering integrating dashcam data with the “smart” traffic camera system already operating across the island.
Car dealers report that more than 60% of new vehicles arriving on the Cypriot market now come equipped with built-in cameras, making the adoption of the law especially timely.
For most drivers, the changes will simply legalize a device they already use—but will also introduce strict data-storage rules and penalties for mishandling recordings.
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