Finland Proposes Allowing Intelligence Gathering in Private Homes to Counter National Security Threats
The Finnish government has submitted proposals to amend intelligence legislation, seeking to permit military and civilian intelligence agencies to conduct surveillance in private homes under strict conditions. The reforms, which require constitutional changes, aim to address gaps in national security protections amid evolving threats and technological advancements.
Military Intelligence Expansion
The Ministry of Defence has proposed changes to the Military Intelligence Act, which currently bans all intelligence-gathering in premises used as permanent residences. The reform would allow location intelligence—such as mapping or photographing a home—and technical surveillance in cases where serious threats to national security are suspected. Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen (NCP) stated that the current ban creates a "safe haven" for actors planning activities harmful to Finland, arguing that the law must adapt to the changing security environment (Ilta-Sanomat).
To enable these measures, Parliament is processing a government proposal to amend the Constitution, which would restrict the protection of domestic peace to investigate military or other activities that seriously endanger national security.
Civilian Intelligence Reforms
The Ministry of the Interior has also opened a consultation on a parallel proposal to expand the toolkit for the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service (Supo). Under the current law, intelligence collection in private homes is entirely prohibited, even in cases involving terrorism or espionage. The new proposal would allow limited use of intelligence methods in residences to counter the most severe threats to national security, such as foreign intelligence operations or terrorist activities (Finnish Ministry of the Interior).
Key restrictions would remain in place. Technical observation and extended surveillance would still be banned in homes, while undercover operations, pseudo purchases, and covert intelligence collection would only be permitted if the resident actively assists in the operation. Site exploitation and on-site interception would be allowed only as a last resort, with strict court authorization required for all intelligence activities in private homes. Oversight mechanisms would ensure compliance with legal safeguards.
Justification and Next Steps
Both proposals are part of the government’s broader intelligence legislation reforms, as outlined in its programme. The amendments to the Constitution and related laws must be approved by Parliament before taking effect. The Ministry of the Interior emphasizes that the changes are necessary to close a critical gap in Finland’s ability to counter serious security threats while maintaining robust legal protections (Finnish Ministry of the Interior).
The consultation period for the proposals is now underway, with stakeholders invited to provide feedback before further legislative steps are taken.