Govt moves to amend law to improve info security, data protection

The Ministry of Transport and Communications on Monday appointed a working group to identify needs to amend the legislation on information security and data protection in sectors of key importance for the functioning of the society, said an official press release.

The working group is also asked to submit a proposal to the government for policy guidelines in this regard.

The aim is to further increase the level of information security in Finnish society and to ensure that the citizens’ data is better protected than presently.

The study will focus on key sectors of society, such as healthcare, financial markets, energy supply, water supply, and transport services. Further areas included in the study are Finland’s digital infrastructure as well as information systems essential for the functioning of public administration.

One reason for setting up the working group is a recent data breach against a psychotherapy service-provider. It showed that there is critical information systems in Finland in which information security and data protection have not been adequately ensured.

The group will be chaired by Ministry of Transport and Communications Director-General Laura Vilkkonen.

In addition to representatives of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the working group has members from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Finance.

The group members also include the Cyber Security Director as well as representatives from the Cyber Security Centre of the Transport and Communications Agency, the Emergency Supply Centre, the National Police Board, and the Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman. The working group will also consult other authorities.

The working group is scheduled to publish an interim report in December 2020 and the term of the group will end on 31 January 2021.