Regulations governing the dissemination of information
The dissemination of information is governed by the following acts:
- Constitution of Finland (731/1999)
- Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621/1999)
- Administrative Procedure Act (434/2003)
- Act on Electronic Services and Communication in the Public Sector (13/2003)
- Personal Data Act (523/1999)
- Language Act (423/2003)
- Sámi Language Act (1086/2003)
- Copyright Act (404/1961)
- Non-Discrimination Act (21/2004)
- Emergency Powers Act (1080/1991)
- State of Defence Act (1083/1991)
The Ministry of Justice website contains information on the transparency legislation which came into effect on 1999.
The organisation of communications by state authorities is governed by the Decree on the Amendment of the Decree on the Openness of Government Activities and Good Data Management Practices (1030/1999).
The regulations have been specified by a recommendation on Government communications which discusses the aims, functions and principles of Government communications.
Recommendation by the Prime Minister's Office on the Principles and Procedure of Central Government Communication (in Finnish, will shortly be made available in English, too)
Government information guidelines for communications in crisis situations and emergencies were revised in 2007.
Government Communications in Crisis Situations and Emergencies