Police powers to conduct undercover activities in information network to be specified

The Government has submitted to Parliament a proposal to specify provisions on police powers to conduct undercover activities in an information network.

According to the government proposal, the police could extend undercover activities conducted in an information network to cover offences other than those on which the activities are based and the prevention of those offences. However, any offence uncovered must be directly related to the offence for the prevention of which the undercover activities are carried out. The offence must also be one for which authorisation for undercover activities in an information network could be granted. In addition, these activities could also be extended to cover persons identified during the activities and who may be assumed to commit an offence that entitles the police to conduct undercover activities.

The need to harmonise legislation is also linked to the Act on Crime Prevention by the Finnish Border Guard, which entered into force on 1 September 2025. The aim of the legislative amendment is to strengthen the state of crime prevention and ensure that the provisions on police secret intelligence collection methods and secret coercive measures are as consistent as possible with those governing the powers of the Finnish Border Guard and Finnish Customs. 

Inquiries:
Marko Meriniemi, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 488 561, [email protected]