luottamuksensuoja

Luottamuksensuoja is a Finnish legal concept referring to the protection of confidences and professional secrecy in situations where information has been entrusted to a person or an institution. The principle aims to ensure that sensitive or personal information is kept confidential and disclosed only with proper justification, consent, or a lawful obligation.

The scope of luottamuksensuoja covers communications and documents intended to remain secret in various relationships and sectors. It is particularly relevant in professional contexts such as attorney–client relations, medical care, financial services, journalism, religious guidance, and public administration. The protection can apply to both written and oral communications and may extend to data that identifies individuals under privacy and data-protection rules.

Legal basis and interpretation come from a combination of constitutional rights, sector-specific secrecy provisions, and general data-protection and privacy law. In Finland, luottamuksensuoja is reinforced by general obligations to treat information confidentially and by rules governing the handling of personal data, as well as by specific secrecy obligations in different professions and public duties. The exact application depends on the relevant statute, professional code, and the context of information handling.

Limitations and exceptions exist where disclosure is required or permitted by law. Courts may order disclosure in the public interest or to prevent harm, and there can be statutory duties to reveal information in criminal investigations, regulatory controls, or other statutory proceedings. Breaches of luottamuksensuoja can lead to legal consequences, including criminal liability, civil liability, or professional sanctions.

See also: professional secrecy, confidentiality, data protection, attorney–client privilege, doctor–patient confidentiality, journalist–source protection.