Data protection

Whenever you move about and do things, you leave traces behind: in e-transactions, in purchases and in using transport. This information can be collated in a variety of registers.

Because of the privacy and legal protection of citizens, it is important that personal data are not abused. Privacy protection applies to the handling of personal data, including disclosure to third parties. Under the Personal Data File Act, the responsibilities of the controller of a register include protecting the personal data collected in such a manner that outsiders cannot access them.

Personal data consists of any and all data through which an individual or his or her family can be uniquely identified. These include but are not limited to name, personal identity number and address.

You should not submit your personal data if you do not know why the data is being collected, what it will be used for and who is doing the collecting. Personal data collected may only be used for the specific purpose for which they were collected. Sensitive information can only be collected under the specific circumstances provided for in the Personal Data File Act.

Handling of personal data and prohibition of disclosure

Generally, a citizen has the right to know for what purpose the body collecting personal data intends to use that data or to whom that body intends to disclose them. A controller of a register must state when collecting the data what the citizen’s access rights are regarding this collected data and how they are implemented. A citizen also has the right to inspect the personal data entered in a register and to request that erroneous data be corrected.

A citizen can prohibit the use of personal data for purposes such as direct mail marketing or telemarketing by notifying a local registry office, the Population Register Centre or Finnish Transport Safety Agency Trafi.

If you have problems or questions regarding the handling of your personal data, always first contact the controller responsible for the register in question. If your personal data turns up in places where it shouldn’t, try to establish where the data came from in the first place. If you are not given the information you request, or if it is not possible to enter the corrections you request, you can refer the matter to the Data Protection Ombudsman.

Data protection

• Data protection
  Publications and other information om data protection.
  Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman