FinlandLaki kuvaohjelmista, Audiovisual-Programme Classification, Age-Limit Marking and Minor-Access Duties
Laki kuvaohjelmista (710/2011), as amended, secs. 2, 5, 6, 16, 36
In force since .
An adult content age verification (AV) rule binding public and private bodies.
- How the hook was established
- express
- What makes it apply
- Operator establishment
- Obligation class
- Age verification, Prohibition
- Audit expectation
- none
What it requires
- Applies to providers offering audiovisual programmes.
- Offer an audiovisual programme only if it carries a clearly visible age-limit and content mark under Section 16, or, for a programme unambiguously intended only for those 18 and older, a clear mark of the 18-year age limit alone (s. 5).
- Classify a programme harmful to a child's development as 7, 12, 16 or 18 years with a content symbol; a programme intended solely for adults may skip classification if it carries the 18-year mark instead (s. 16).
- Do not offer a programme rated 18 to a minor, subject to a broadcast-timing exception (s. 6).
- Keep a programme rated 7, 12 or 16 from being watched by a younger child, through broadcast timing, making a blocking service available, or otherwise verifying age when the programme is offered (s. 6).
These lines are LexLint's reading of the law's text. Also read by: Kansallinen audiovisuaalinen instituutti (National Audiovisual Institute, KAVI) (guidance, recorded ).
If you get it wrong
Criminal exposureYes
Criminal exposure note
Section 36 punishes intentionally or through gross negligence failing to notify the offering of audiovisual programmes, offering a programme not classified and marked as Section 5 requires, classifying a programme without the Section 12 right to act as a classifier, failing to make the Section 17 listing, or failing to supply a programme to the National Audiovisual Institute on request, as a kuvaohjelmarikkomus (audiovisual-programme violation) punishable by a fine, unless Criminal Code (Rikoslaki, 39/1889) Chapter 17, Section 18b applies instead. That section separately punishes publicly showing, distributing, or otherwise making available to a person younger than eighteen an unclassified programme lacking the required 18-year marking, or a programme rated 18, by a fine or imprisonment for at most six months.
Who enforces it
Enforcement body
Kansallinen audiovisuaalinen instituutti (National Audiovisual Institute, KAVI), the supervisory authority for audiovisual-programme classification and marking under Section 19.
Settledness
- As of
- Guidance link
- https://kavi.fi/ikarajojen-noudattaminen/
- Guidance body
- Kansallinen audiovisuaalinen instituutti (National Audiovisual Institute, KAVI)
- Open questions
- Which measures other than checking a child's age when the programme is offered satisfy the duty in Section 6 of the Laki kuvaohjelmista to keep a programme rated 7, 12 or 16 from a younger child, when the KAVI guidance gives age checking only as an example?
What it makes you log
Logging duty
Sections 5, 6 and 16 require age-limit marking, classification and measures to keep younger children from age-rated programmes, including checking age; they state no duty to create or keep a log or record. The Act's information and inspection powers sit in Sections 23 a and 24, which this row does not cover.
- Kind
- None
- As of
What this law does
Section 5 lets a provider offer an audiovisual programme only if it carries a clearly visible age-limit and content mark under Section 16, or, for a programme unambiguously intended only for those 18 and older, a clear mark of the 18-year age limit alone. Section 16 requires a programme harmful to a child's development to be classified 7, 12, 16, or 18 years with a content symbol, and lets a programme intended solely for adults skip classification if it instead carries the 18-year mark.
Section 6 prohibits offering a programme rated 18 to a minor at all, subject to a broadcast-timing exception. The same section requires the provider to keep a programme rated 7, 12, or 16 from being watched by a younger child through broadcast timing, making a blocking service available, or otherwise verifying age when the programme is offered. The National Audiovisual Institute supervises compliance and maintains the public register of classified programmes under Sections 17 and 18.
When LexLint raises it
When your app profile says your app publishes adult content.
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