Portuguese Public Security Police clarifies face-covering regulations

The Public Security Police (PSP) has stated that there is no general rule regarding the use of masks or objects that cover the face during demonstrations. Instead, each instance must be assessed based on concrete circumstances and legal foundations.

Under recently enacted legislation, concealing one's face in public spaces is prohibited, though exceptions exist for health, professional, artistic, entertainment, security, or weather-related reasons. The PSP emphasized that police intervention is not automatic based solely on clothing or accessories, but is instead weighed against observed behaviors and assessed risks. The law includes fines for violations and criminalizes forcing others to conceal their faces through violence, threats, or coercion.