julkisuuslakiin

Julkisuuslaki, officially Laki viranomaisten toiminnan julkisuudesta, is a Finnish statute enacted in 1999 (621/1999) that governs public access to documents and information held by authorities. It applies to central and local government bodies, courts, and other public entities carrying out official tasks. The central aim is openness: information related to official activities is generally public, unless specifically protected by secrecy or privacy rules.

Public access rights are the cornerstone of the act. Anyone may request to inspect or obtain copies of documents, and requests can be made in writing, verbally, or electronically. Authorities are obligated to handle requests promptly and provide a decision within a reasonable time. If access is restricted or parts of a document are redacted, the authority must justify the withholding and reference the applicable legal grounds.

Exemptions and secrecy cover several categories. Personal data protected by privacy laws may be withheld to safeguard individuals’ rights. Trade secrets and confidential commercial information may be restricted. Information concerning national security, defense, or other matters of public safety can also be restricted. Some internal deliberations and ongoing investigations may be protected to ensure effective public administration. Not all information is automatically secret; the law requires a balancing test in some cases to determine disclosure.

Decision and remedies: If access is denied or delayed, the requester can appeal to the relevant administrative authority and, if necessary, to an administrative court. Many authorities also publish key documents online to promote transparency.

The act has been amended multiple times to strengthen openness and adapt to digital information flows, and it interacts with data protection and other secrecy laws to regulate disclosure.