Ilmoittaja

Ilmoittaja is a Finnish noun meaning “the person who makes an ilmoitus (notification or report).” It is formed from the verb ilmoittaa, “to notify” or “to report,” with the agent noun suffix -ja.

In Finnish law and administration, an ilmoittaja is the person who submits a formal ilmoitus to authorities about a crime, an incident, or a violation. The ilmoittaja may be a victim, a witness, or another party; the term focuses on who initiated the process, not on guilt. The authorities record the ilmoitus and may initiate investigations, procedures, or corrective actions.

The term is also used outside strictly criminal matters, for example when reporting to authorities about administrative or regulatory issues such as tax declarations or safety concerns. In organizational contexts, someone who reports wrongdoing may be described as an ilmiantaja (whistleblower); ilmoittaja is a broader, everyday term that can be used more generally.

Rights and confidentiality: In many situations, the identity of the ilmoittaja may be protected by law to prevent retaliation and to encourage reporting.

See also: ilmoitus, ilmoittaminen, ilmiantaja.