Legal: Regulation news in Portugal

Portugal's media regulator, the Media Regulatory Authority (Entidade Reguladora para a Comunicação Social or ERC), opened formal proceedings into the interruption of a live broadcast at Rádio Universidade de Coimbra (RUC) by members of the Chega party. The incident was led by Chega lawmakers Rita Matias and Madalena Cordeiro during a broadcast on 12 October. The Coimbra Academic Association (Associação Académica de Coimbra or AAC) announced it is submitting a formal complaint to the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministério Público).

The Porto City Council (Câmara Municipal do Porto) refused an application to license a short-term rental (alojamento local) at the Major Seminary (Seminário Maior) near the city's cathedral. The Diocese of Porto has spent €16 million on the controversial restoration project, which drew a public petition with nearly 3,000 signatures opposing commercial lodging on the classified site. Church officials disputed the city's claims, asserting they never formally applied to operate a tourist accommodation.

Authorities are investigating a potential misuse of EU financial resources within the country.

Law 58/2026, often referred to as the burqa law, officially took effect on 23 September, prohibiting the use of face-covering garments in public spaces. Violators face fines of up to €3,000, while those who force others to conceal their faces may face prison sentences of up to two years, with specific exemptions allowed for health reasons.

A recent amendment to the Cybercrime Law (Lei do Cibercrime) has clarified the legal status of security researchers, effectively protecting 'ethical hackers' from criminal prosecution when testing company systems. The Public Prosecution Service (Ministério Público) has issued new practical guidelines to assist magistrates in applying these rules, which have been in effect since April.

Starting September 23, a new law prohibits the total or partial covering of the face in public spaces in Portugal. The legislation, often referred to as the burqa law, includes specific exceptions and carries fines of up to 3,000 euros for non-compliance.

The government and the Livre party are in disagreement over potential new restrictions for legal online gambling and betting. While the government prioritizes combating illegal platforms, Livre has proposed eight measures to address the rising number of players as a public health issue. Officials have admitted that amendments to the Advertising Code regarding gambling are currently under consideration.

The Association of Inspectors and Chiefs of the Maritime Police (Associação de Inspetores e Chefes da Polícia Marítima or AICPM) has filed a lawsuit against the Portuguese State and the Navy. The association cites total chaos, severe budget constraints, and illegitimate military interference as reasons for the legal action, noting that some local commands are currently operating with only one officer.

The National Communications Authority (Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações or Anacom) has fined the telecommunications operator NOS 350,000 euros for unilaterally changing contract terms. The regulator stated that NOS failed to provide the required 30-day notice before introducing mandatory advertising in automatic TV recordings, a practice that also led to previous fines for Meo and Vodafone.

New legislation governing paid passenger transport in electronically available vehicles, known as the TVDE regime, comes into effect on September 1. The updated law, which amends previous 2018 regulations, also mandates that new taxi fare rules will begin on October 1. The changes follow eight years of regulation for ride-hailing platforms in Portugal.

Portugal has implemented a ban on cash payments or receipts involving amounts of 3,000 euros or more. According to the Bank of Portugal (Banco de Portugal), this restriction applies to both parties in a transaction and cannot be circumvented by splitting payments into smaller installments.

Starting 23 September, a new law prohibits the use of clothing in public spaces intended to conceal or hinder the display of the face. Violations can result in fines of up to 3,000 euros, while coercing others to cover their faces may lead to imprisonment. The legislation includes specific exceptions for health, safety, weather, and professional requirements.

The National Road Safety Authority (Autoridade Nacional de Segurança Rodoviária or ANSR), alongside the Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) and the National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana or GNR), has launched a nationwide zero-tolerance campaign against drunk driving. Running until August 24, the initiative focuses on raising awareness and increasing enforcement operations to reduce risky driving behaviors.

The Ministry of Economy is developing new measures to combat the use of front shops and companies by criminal networks involved in illegal immigration and human trafficking. Authorities are currently evaluating potential solutions to address these illicit activities, which have been identified as a growing concern in commercial sectors.

Social Security (Segurança Social) has ordered the immediate closure of an illegal nursery in Amadora that was operating with 50 children. Authorities cited severe overcrowding and determined that the facility posed an imminent risk to the health and safety of the minors involved.

The government led by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has decided not to require companies to disclose salary offers directly in job advertisements. While the European directive on pay transparency allowed for such a requirement, the upcoming national transposition will not include this provision. The government is instead focusing on strengthening sanctions for companies that maintain wage inequalities.

The National Communications Authority (Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações or Anacom) has proposed a new regulation allowing customers to claim up to €5,750 in compensation for service interruptions during the process of switching internet providers. Under the draft, which is open for public consultation until September 11, the new provider would be responsible for coordinating the transfer to minimize service gaps.

Starting September 1st, judges will have the authority to impose fines of up to 10,200 euros on parties who engage in acts intended to delay legal proceedings. This measure, published in the official gazette (Diário da República), aims to streamline the justice system.

The Judiciary Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) has disclosed details regarding 17 contracts awarded to a construction firm owned by an associate of the Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves. Records show that only one of these contracts was awarded through a competitive public tender, raising questions about the procurement process used during the minister's tenure as head of the agency.

The National Communications Authority (Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações or Anacom) has fined Vodafone 160,000 euros for making unilateral changes to the contracts of nearly 450,000 subscribers. The regulator stated the company failed to properly notify customers about mandatory advertisement viewing in its TV service, though Vodafone has announced it will appeal the decision.

The e-commerce platform AliExpress announced it will appeal a 550 million euro fine imposed by the European Commission. The company labeled the sanction, which relates to the sale of illegal products, as disproportionate.

The European Commission has opened two infringement proceedings against Portugal for failing to transpose EU directives related to migrant reception and labour migration. The directives aim to facilitate the admission and retention of third-country workers and strengthen protections against exploitation.

The European Commission has launched infringement procedures against Portugal for failing to fully transpose several EU directives. These include rules on migrant reception, environmental crime protection, and legislation designed to shield journalists from abusive lawsuits.

The European Commission has launched infringement procedures against Portugal for failing to meet European Union standards in several areas. The actions concern non-compliance with waste recycling targets, inadequate fisheries control, and labour legislation that does not fully align with EU requirements for transparent working conditions.

The Tax and Customs Authority (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira or AT) garnished 75,620 salaries and 13,221 pensions in 2025 to recover unpaid tax debts. This coercive collection process saw a 10% increase compared to previous periods, as the government intensifies efforts to ensure compliance with fiscal obligations.

New regulations for online shopping from non-EU platforms come into effect this Wednesday, impacting customs and import procedures.

The Public Prosecution Service (Ministério Público) filed 781 charges for illegal gambling activities between 2020 and 2025. During this six-year period, the office also opened 1,884 inquiries and issued 1,095 dismissal orders related to the illicit exploitation of gambling.

Following an investigation by British competition authorities, Ryanair will no longer charge parents extra fees to sit next to their children. The new policy applies to all bookings made from this Thursday, though the airline noted that families may be seated toward the rear of the aircraft.

Companies listed on the stock exchange face fines of up to 2.5 million euros from the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários or CMVM) for failing to meet gender equality requirements. Since 2020, boards have been mandated to ensure that at least 33.3% of their members represent the underrepresented gender.

The Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata or PSD) announced it will modify its bill regarding the hoisting of ideological or partisan flags on public buildings. The decision follows a political veto by President of the Republic António José Seguro, with the party aiming to incorporate his recommendations into the new version of the decree-law.

The Public Prosecution Service (Procuradoria-Geral da República or PGR) has prohibited magistrates from using artificial intelligence to predict the probability of conviction or the risk of recidivism among defendants. The new rule mandates that AI tools may only serve as auxiliary instruments and cannot be used to generate automated profiles for suggesting coercive measures.

The Competition Authority (Autoridade da Concorrência or AdC) has imposed fines totaling 13.35 million euros on Meo, NOS, Vodafone, and the consultancy firm Accenture. The penalties relate to an anti-competitive agreement involving subscription television services and advertising in television recordings. While Meo has reportedly reached an agreement to avoid further legal action, other companies have indicated they will challenge the decision.

The Bank of Portugal (Banco de Portugal or BdP) is moving all digital banking complaints to the Electronic Complaints Book (Livro de Reclamações Eletrónico). This change aims to accelerate processing times, with the regulator now requiring financial institutions to respond within 15 days.

The government has approved a legislative proposal requiring telecommunications operators to block fraudulent messages and spoofed phone numbers. The new rules also mandate the identification of all prepaid mobile card users to improve security and prevent online scams.

The Judiciary Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) opened a record 177 investigations into sham marriages in 2025, a significant increase from previous years. Authorities report that the rise follows the 2024 abolition of the expression of interest mechanism, which previously allowed foreign nationals to obtain residency through tax contributions. Criminal networks are reportedly recruiting vulnerable Portuguese individuals via social media to participate in these fraudulent unions.

The Food and Economic Safety Authority (Autoridade de Segurança Alimentar e Económica or ASAE) initiated 32 administrative proceedings and one criminal case following a nationwide inspection of goods transport. The operation, named 'Safe Cargo', targeted compliance across more than 50 locations.

The mandatory implementation of two-factor authentication for the Direct Social Security (Segurança Social Direta or SSD) portal has been postponed to May 16. The delay follows technical difficulties reported by users throughout the week in receiving necessary access codes. The measure is part of an ongoing effort to increase security for online public services.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Portuguese Refugee Council (Conselho Português para os Refugiados or CPR) have criticized a government proposal regarding the return of foreign nationals. The bill, which faces parliamentary debate, maintains a 360-day detention limit but introduces new coercive measures like bail, which critics argue violates international standards.

The Court of Auditors (Tribunal de Contas or TdC) has identified illegalities regarding the appointment of at least 49 managers at the Oeiras City Council (Câmara de Oeiras). These officials have been serving in acting roles beyond the 90-day legal limit without the required public tender procedures. The TdC report suggests these findings could lead to future disciplinary action against those responsible for human resources management.

The National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM) has denied claims that it is eliminating specialized paediatric ambulance services. The clarification follows concerns raised by the INEM Workers' Commission regarding a new government order that defines updated protocols for the inter-hospital transport of critical patients.

The Tax and Customs Authority (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira or AT) has issued a warning regarding fraudulent emails and SMS messages currently circulating. These messages impersonate the tax office to trick taxpayers into clicking malicious links designed to steal personal and banking information. The AT reminds the public that it only sends official communications from verified domains.

The Migration Technicians Union has called for a rigorous investigation into the circumstances that led to Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) searches at the Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (AIMA) branch in the Azores. The union expressed solidarity with staff in Ponta Delgada and warned that the negative public exposure of the institution is placing significant pressure on its employees.

The Bank of Portugal (Banco de Portugal) has clarified that national limits on cash payments remain more restrictive than the new €10,000 ceiling recently approved by the European Union. These tighter domestic rules are maintained as part of the country's efforts to combat money laundering.

The National Cybersecurity Centre (Centro Nacional de Cibersegurança or CNCS) reported 3,864 security incidents in 2025, a 40% increase over the previous year. Coordinator Lino Santos noted that human factors, such as phishing, account for roughly half of these cases, which include harassment, stalking, and digital scams.

The Public Prosecution Service (Ministério Público or MP) has proposed reforms to the Code of Criminal Procedure to streamline investigations, including granting prosecutors authority to select emails for evidence without initial judicial oversight. The director of the Central Department of Investigation and Penal Action (Departamento Central de Investigação e Ação Penal or DCIAP), Rui Cardoso, stated these changes aim to prevent years-long delays in complex cases.

A hacker has reportedly stolen one million data records from the Locky locker service operated by the national postal service, CTT. The company confirmed the breach, stating that the stolen information includes contact details, delivery identification, and collection times, but clarified that financial data and passwords remain secure. CTT has notified the National Cybersecurity Center (Centro Nacional de Cibersegurança) and is contacting affected customers.

The government approved new rules exempting public contracts under 10 million euros from prior approval by the Court of Auditors (Tribunal de Contas or TdC). Minister Gonçalo Saraiva Matias stated the reform aims to reduce bureaucracy, though the move faces opposition from Chega, which labeled the potential change an invitation to corruption. The government maintains that the adjustment is a responsible step to modernize public management.

The Food and Economic Safety Authority (Autoridade de Segurança Alimentar e Económica or ASAE) has dismantled two illegal slaughterhouses and seized over two tonnes of meat, primarily sheep and goats. The operation was part of a recent crackdown on clandestine slaughter practices. The authority continues to monitor food safety standards across the country.

A provisional European Union regime that allowed digital platforms to voluntarily detect and report child sexual abuse content expired this Friday. The lapse follows a failure by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU to reach an agreement on a permanent legislative framework, effectively ending the temporary bypass of electronic communication privacy rules.