Henkilötietosuojan

Henkilötietosuojan is the Finnish term for personal data protection and refers to the legal framework that governs the processing of personal data in Finland. It is based on the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which came into effect on 25 May 2018, and the Finnish Act on the Protection of Personal Data. The law is designed to safeguard individuals’ privacy rights and ensure that organizations handle personal information responsibly.

Under the Finnish framework, a personal data controller must identify the purpose of data processing, obtain lawful consent, and ensure that data are accurate, limited in scope, and stored only for as long as necessary. Data processors are required to implement technical and organisational measures to protect data against loss, misuse, or unauthorized access. Individuals have the right to request access to their data, demand corrections or deletion, and withdraw consent at any time. They may also lodge complaints to the Finnish Data Protection Authority (Tietosuojavaltuutettu) if they believe their rights have been infringed.

The Finnish Data Protection Authority monitors compliance, grants authorisations for special data processing activities, and can impose fines. It also actively engages in public education about data rights. The combination of GDPR and national legislation creates a robust system that balances individual privacy with the needs of businesses and public services to process data transparently and lawfully.