Information and security

Objective and tasks
Data economy
Media and postal services
Cyber security, information security and data protection
Road transport and Logistics chains

1. Objective and tasks

It is the duty of the Ministry of Transport and Communications to improve accessibility, interoperability and sustainable use of data across different sectors, thus enabling the growth of the data economy. We strive to make digitalisation and artificial intelligence widely used in this sector. To safeguard freedom of expression and the best interests of service users, we will secure appropriate operating conditions for a well-functioning communications service market and for an independent media.

The Ministry is responsible for making sure that communications networks and associated digital services and products are reliable and safe. We will see to it that society’s ability to anticipate, tolerate and recover from cyber incidents is strengthened in collaboration with the public and private sectors. We will ensure that new technologies are adopted while managing risks and leveraging opportunities.

We are responsible for improving the safety, sustainability and efficiency of road transport and logistics chains. We will create proper conditions for an efficient and human-centred utilisation of future technologies, including digitalisation and automation, in road transport and logistics. We will ensure that the harmful climate and environmental impacts of vehicles are reduced.

2. Data economy

The Ministry of Transport and Communications is responsible for ensuring that the growth of the data economy is enabled through the availability, interoperability and sustainable utilisation of data across sectoral boundaries. We will promote extensive utilisation of digitalisation and artificial intelligence in our sector. It is our duty to promote climate and environmental issues inherent in information and communications technology.

The data economy is based on the collection, utilisation and use of data in business, services and societal activities. The Ministry will boost the growth and competitiveness of the data economy by strengthening the data ecosystems of companies, public administration and the third sector, by bolstering data sharing infrastructures and by creating favourable conditions for data interoperability. The Ministry is responsible for the regulation of data utilisation in its own sector and also more generally.

The Ministry promotes digitalisation and the data economy and actively influences the development of data economy solutions and the availability of data e.g. for the use of artificial intelligence in a fair, human-centred and sustainable manner also in the European Union and globally.

The Ministry promotes a change in the management of digitalisation and the data economy within the Finnish Government in order to increase wellbeing, sustainable growth, competitiveness and productivity. The Ministry participates in the coordination group for digitalisation and in the digital compass cooperation within the Government.

3. Media and postal services

The Ministry of Transport and Communications will ensure appropriate operating conditions for a well-functioning communications service market and for an independent media in order to safeguard freedom of expression and the best interests of service users. The Ministry will prepare the regulations and policy measures concerning media services and postal services.

We will draft the legislation on universal postal services and on the Finnish Broadcasting Company. The Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) has public service duties defined by law. The YLE’s programme services on television, on the radio and online must be accessible to everyone living in Finland, regardless of their income level or place of residence.

We are responsible for regulating the universal postal service, which means ensuring that postal services are available everywhere in Finland on equal terms. Provisions on the universal service are laid down in the Postal Act, under which Posti Distribution Ltd. was designated as the universal service provider by Traficom.

The Ministry is also responsible for the legislation that concerns e-commerce and online platforms and for consumer services for communications and electronic platforms. Its responsibilities also cover legislation on the accessibility of general communications and media services.

4. Cyber security, information security and data protection

An increasing number of transport services and nearly all communication services depend on the good functioning of the information and communications infrastructure. The Ministry of Transport and Communications is responsible for legislation and strategy development concerning information security in communications networks and services.

It is our mission to ensure and promote the confidence of the general public, businesses and public administration in the security and privacy protection of services provided in the information society. This trust is based on the services’ user-friendliness, ensured privacy protection and content authenticity, among others.

The administrative branch of the Ministry of Transport and Communications plays a key role in guaranteeing cyber security in the entire society. Cyber threat prevention is an essential part of comprehensive security. Cyber security must be an integral part of all digital services and products.

The role of preparedness and resilience becomes pronounced in the face of an expanding threat field and swift technological development. Effective cyber threat prevention calls for new means, up-to-date systems, expertise, and close cooperation and exchange of information between civilian and military authorities. At the same time, the implementation of data protection in electronic communications must be ensured while respecting fundamental and human rights.

The administrative branch of the Ministry of Transport and Communications plays a key role in guaranteeing cyber security in the entire society. Cyber threat prevention is an essential part of comprehensive security, and cyber security must be fully integrated in all digital services and products. The National Cyber Security Centre of the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom operates in the administrative branch of the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

Data protection in electronic communications is monitored by the Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) and the Data Protection Ombudsman. As laid down in the Cyber Security Act, the management of cyber security risks is supervised, in their respective sectors, by the following supervisory authorities: the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, the Energy Authority, the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency, the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health, the Finnish Food Authority, and the Finnish Medicines Agency.

5. Road transport and logistics chains

The Ministry of Transport and Communications aims to have a well-functioning transport market in Finland. Road transport and logistic chains must be safe, sustainable and efficient. The Ministry is preparing legislation e.g. to promote new vehicle technologies, to ensure safe operation by road users and to reduce vehicle emissions.

It strives to have comprehensive security better observed within the transport system and see digitalisation more widely used in road transport. It will create the conditions for improving the availability and interoperability of transport and logistics data and for raising the efficiency of the transport system.

Transport safety

The Ministry of Transport and Communications is responsible for drafting legislation on transport safety. The goal is to achieve, by 2050, Vision Zero, meaning that fatalities and serious injuries would no longer occur in any mode of transport.

Within the Ministry’s administrative branch, the key players in the field of transport safety are the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom), the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, and Liikenneturva (Finnish Road Safety Council).