02.12.2009

Information security notifications given by Finnish telecom operators affected by Swedish legislation

On 1 December 2009, an Act entered into force giving the Swedish Defence Radio Establishment (FRA) the possibility to monitor outgoing Finnish electronic communications passing through Sweden. A substantial amount of outgoing Finnish telecommunications passes through Sweden.

The change in the Swedish legislation affects the way Finnish telecom operators notify of information security, because they are obliged to notify their subscribers and FICORA of information security threats to their services. The change has been taken into consideration in FICORA's amended regulation on the obligation to notify of violations of information security in public telecommunications, which enters into force in the beginning of the year. The regulation is based on the Finnish Act on the Protection of Privacy in Electronic Communications.

If necessary, messages can be encrypted. For advice, see the website on the protection of electronic communications, which is maintained by FICORA and other sectoral players.

FICORA's press release of 27 November 2009: Telecom operators obliged to notify of information security of communications services