ylenkatsominen

Ylenkatsominen is a Finnish term that literally translates as "over‑watching" or "excessive observation." It describes an act of looking at or watching something—or someone—more closely, more frequently, or in a more intrusive manner than is considered normal or appropriate. The word combines the prefix ylen, meaning "over" or "excessively," with katsominen, the noun form of katsominen, meaning "to look" or "to watch."

In everyday usage ylenkatsominen is often associated with environments where privacy is expected, such as at home, at work, or in public spaces. It can refer to a person who repeatedly checks on a colleague’s computer screen, a partner who constantly monitors a spouse’s messages, or a parent who keeps a constant eye on a child’s social activities. The term is also used in online contexts to describe users who obsessively follow another individual's posts or status updates.

The phrase has gained some legal relevance in Finland. Under the Finnish Penal Code, persistent, non-consensual surveillance that causes alarm or fear can be prosecuted as a form of "illegitimate monitoring" (tietosuoja‑rahapalkinto) and, in extreme cases, can be classified as harassment or even intimidation. While ylenkatsominen itself is not a distinct legal category, it is frequently cited in court documents and privacy‑law commentary when describing a pattern of invasive observation.

In popular media, ylenkatsominen is sometimes used in headlines to warn citizens about privacy breaches, especially those involving social media, surveillance software, or workplace monitoring tools. The concept is part of a broader conversation in Finland about balancing transparency, security, and personal privacy.