henkilötietosuoja

Henkilötietosuoja is the Finnish term for data protection or personal data protection. It refers to the legal and regulatory framework governing the processing of personal data to ensure individuals' privacy rights are maintained. In Finland, henkilötietosuoja aligns closely with the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which came into effect on May 25, 2018. The GDPR sets out rules for the collection, use, storage, and transfer of personal data across EU member states.

The primary objective of henkilötietosuoja is to protect individuals from the misuse of their personal information by ensuring transparency, security, and accountability among data controllers and processors. Key principles include lawfulness, fairness, transparency, purpose limitation, data minimization, accuracy, storage limitation, integrity, and confidentiality.

In Finland, the Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman oversees the enforcement of data protection laws. It provides guidance, monitors compliance, and handles complaints regarding personal data processing. Organizations that process personal data must implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to safeguard data and must inform individuals of their rights, such as the right to access, rectify, erase, or restrict their data.

Henkilötietosuoja is particularly relevant for various sectors, including healthcare, finance, public administration, and online services, where sensitive personal data is often handled. Ensuring effective henkilötietosuoja helps maintain trust between citizens and organizations while supporting privacy rights in an increasingly digital world.