Finland’s new social welfare reforms risk harming human rights, including the right to privacy. Privacy International, the European Disability Forum, and Pirkko Mahlamäki,, Finnish Disability Forum representative, warn about these risks in our joint statement.
We call on the Finnish government to:
- ensure full and equal respect for the right to privacy, and all other human rights, for everyone affected by digital public infrastructure
- ensure that national laws comply with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and all other international human rights treaties Finland has ratified
Some reforms increase the powers of authorities and welfare administrators to access people’s financial data. Other proposals would allow the use of at‑home technological monitoring and surveillance of people receiving benefits, without their consent. These measures raise serious human rights concerns.
We highlight the negative impact these reforms could have on persons with disabilities, and on everyone who receives benefits through the Kela welfare system.