Tiedonhaettelua

Tiedonhaettelua is a Finnish term describing the practice of requesting information held by public authorities or government bodies. It is a central element of Finland’s transparency framework and is used by citizens, journalists, researchers, and organizations to obtain access to official documents and data.

The right to information is grounded in the Finnish Constitution and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (Laki viranomaisten toiminnan julkisuudesta). A tiedonhaettelua request can be submitted to a public authority, often in writing or through electronic channels, and should specify the documents or kinds of information sought. The authority assesses whether the information is public and must respond without undue delay, providing the information if possible or offering a justified refusal and information about how to appeal. Some information may be restricted for reasons such as privacy, business secrets, or national security.

Requests can be refused wholly or partially. If access is denied, the requester typically has avenues to appeal within the public administration or, in many cases, to administrative courts, depending on the nature of the information and the governing rules.

Practical considerations include the clarity of the request, potential costs for copying or processing data, and the format of disclosure (documents, data extracts, or online access). The concept is relevant to journalism, research, public governance, and civic participation.

See also: freedom of information, public access to government information, and data protection.