Henkilötietosuojalaki

Henkilötietosuojalaki is the Finnish term for the Finnish Data Protection Act. This legislation governs the processing of personal data within Finland. It is largely based on and complements the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The Finnish law specifies national provisions and adaptations to the GDPR, ensuring its consistent application in the country.

The primary purpose of the Henkilötietosuojalaki is to protect the privacy and fundamental rights of individuals concerning their personal data. It outlines the conditions under which personal data can be collected, processed, stored, and transferred. Key principles include lawful, fair, and transparent processing, purpose limitation, data minimization, accuracy, storage limitation, integrity, and confidentiality.

The law applies to all organizations, whether public or private, that process personal data of individuals residing in Finland. It details the rights of data subjects, such as the right to access their data, rectification, erasure, and restriction of processing. Furthermore, it establishes the responsibilities of data controllers and processors, including the need for data protection impact assessments and appointing a data protection officer in certain cases.

The Finnish supervisory authority, the Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman (Tietosuojavaltuutettu), is responsible for enforcing the Henkilötietosuojalaki. They provide guidance, investigate potential breaches, and can impose sanctions for non-compliance. The law aims to build trust in the digital environment by ensuring that personal data is handled responsibly and in accordance with established privacy standards.