Confidentiality, Privacy and Data Security

As regards communication via electronic communications networks (for instance e-mails, telephone calls and so forth), the aspects pertaining to confidentiality, privacy and data security gain special importance. All the essential provisions on communications and obligations imposed for the actions of telecommunications operators and corporate subscribers (i.e. the companies or organizations that subscribe to a communications service or a value added service and process users’ confidential messages, traffic data or location data in their communications networks) are included in the Act on Electronic Communication Services.

The situations where a corporate subscriber (company) can investigate the confidential traffic data of the users of its communications network are set forth in the same code. The conditions and procedures based on which an employer in the role of a corporate subscriber may seek for and open its employees’ emails (i.e. inspect the content), is however regulated in the Act on the Protection of Privacy in Working Life.

In addition to regulations on the processing of traffic data, the Act on Electronic Communication Services also includes regulations on the processing of location data, direct electronic marketing and cookies.