Väärennetyt

Väärennetyt is a Finnish term meaning forgeries or fakes. It is used to describe objects or documents that have been intentionally altered or created to deceive. In Finnish-language discourse, the term can appear as a common noun or as part of titles for documentaries, books, or articles about forgery.

Forgeries occur across many domains, including visual art, historical manuscripts, currency, official documents, and more recently digital media. In the art world, forgeries range from painting replicas to misattributed works; in documents, forged signatures or counterfeit passports have been found; in currency, counterfeit banknotes are produced to imitate legal tender. Digital forgeries include photo- and video-manipulations such as deepfakes, as well as forged digital documents or other faked media.

Authentication relies on provenance research, expert appraisal, and scientific analyses. Methods include material analysis of pigments and paper, handwriting analysis, and examination of printing techniques. In digital contexts, image forensics, metadata examination, and cryptographic verification play roles.

Legally, forgery is a criminal offense in Finland, with penalties depending on the nature and impact of the offense. Institutions such as police, customs, archives, and museums work to detect, document, and prevent väärennetyt items, and to educate the public about authentication and provenance.

Notable research and public interest focus on the history of counterfeiting, the economics of forgery, and the ethical implications of authentication.