Tiedonvapaus

Tiedonvapaus, or freedom of information, refers to the right of individuals to access information held by public authorities about how they operate, make decisions, and conduct official business. It is a fundamental principle in democratic governance, enabling transparency, accountability, and public participation.

In Finland, the right is primarily regulated by the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (Julkisuuslaki). The act guarantees the public’s access to official documents and to information about governmental activities, with an overall presumption of openness. It applies to central and local government bodies, courts, and other public authorities, including electronic records and public proceedings. The right is broad and non-discretionary in most cases, promoted to foster trust and scrutiny.

Requests for information can be made by any person, and authorities are expected to respond promptly, typically within a short time frame. Access is granted unless specific exemptions apply. Exemptions cover areas such as protection of privacy and personal data, trade secrets, internal deliberations, national security, and other sensitive circumstances where disclosure could harm legitimate interests or ongoing investigations.

If access is denied or restricted, the requester generally has avenues to appeal, through administrative courts or oversight bodies such as the Chancellor of Justice or the Data Protection Authority, depending on the nature of the information and the basis for the denial. The system aims to balance openness with legitimate interests, including privacy and security.

Tiedonvapaus aligns with international norms of freedom of information and is complemented by comparable laws in other countries, as well as EU rules on data protection and public sector information.