Finland

The Act on the Provision of Digital Services (Laki digitaalisten palvelujen tarjoamisesta), Finland’s digital accessibility regulation, is governed by the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Justice.

What it includes

The Act on the Provision of Digital Services defines a broad scope for digital accessibility requirements in Finland. The law applies to digital services provided by public authorities, public law institutions, and private entities whose digital service development or maintenance is funded at least 50% by public authorities.

Additionally, it covers online identification and payment services, digital services of public utility companies in sectors like water, energy, transportation, and postal services, and financial institutions including banks, insurance companies, and investment firms offering public services. Religious organizations, such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church, are subject to separate regulations.

Furthermore, the act governs public-facing services and electronic data transmission, ensuring accessibility standards align with WCAG 2.1 Level AA requirements.

Exceptions

The act outlines exceptions to accessibility requirements for specific digital contexts, balancing regulatory goals with practical constraints. Intranets, extranets, and mobile apps intended for limited workplace use are exempt unless created after September 23, 2019, in which case certain chapters apply, particularly for public authorities.

Educational content tied to specific acts, public broadcasters’ services (excluding those providing audiovisual access), real-time media not archived, and online maps without navigation functions are also excluded. Content not produced, financed, or controlled by providers and certain cultural heritage works that cannot be modified for accessibility are exempt.

Additionally, the law doesn’t apply to police investigations, temporary education materials used within limited groups, or church-related digital services. For mapping services, navigation-related content must ensure essential information is accessible.

Fines and penalties

In Finland, the supervisory authority holds the power to enforce compliance with accessibility requirements through fines, as outlined in the Threatened Fines Act (1113/1990). These fines are discretionary and determined based on the nature and extent of the accessibility obligation, the organization’s ability to pay, and other relevant factors. If an organization fails to address accessibility issues following an order, the supervisory authority can impose a penalty fine to ensure compliance. This mechanism encourages adherence while considering proportionality and fairness in enforcement.

Reporting

Finland follows the EU-wide mandate for accessibility statements on public sector websites and digital services. These statements are essential for maintaining transparency and accountability.

Service providers are required to maintain an accessibility statement that details non-compliant aspects of their digital service with the accessibility requirements and the reasons why, instructions for users to access service information in alternative formats, contact information for submitting accessibility feedback, and a link to the supervisory authority for complaints. This statement must adhere to a specified format outlined by the European Commission’s implementing act and be readily available in an accessible format on the service provider’s website or, for mobile applications, in a way accessible during the download process. The service provider must maintain an accessibility statement, which must include at least:

• An explanation of which parts of the content of the service provider’s digital service do not meet the accessibility requirements and the reasons for deviating from the accessibility requirements.
• Instructions on how the user of the service can obtain the information contained in the digital service or the service in an alternative way, if the service or its part is not in a form accessible to the user.
• The service provider’s electronic contact information, to which the service user can send accessibility feedback.
• A link to the supervisory authority’s website, where the service user can make an accessibility complaint or clarification request.

For the latest and most accurate information on digital accessibility requirements, please refer to the official documentation provided by the Finnish government.