Finland proposes new powers for Supo against state-sponsored threats

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Finland's government has proposed new powers allowing intelligence agency Supo to target information systems operated by state actors, including those located abroad, to counter state-sponsored cyber threats. The amendments also extend secrecy periods for national security information up to 60 years and give the Border Guard a supporting role, as authorities respond to threats increasingly shifting into digital networks.

Daniel TrangeledFinland23 Oct 2026Original Source

Finland’s government has proposed new powers for the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service (Supo) to counter state-sponsored threats. The proposal was submitted to Parliament on 22 October 2026.

Supo would be allowed to target intelligence collection at information systems operated by state actors, according to the Ministry of the Interior. This would cover systems used for activities that seriously threaten national security. Supo could also carry out IT measures related to such systems located abroad.

The proposal also revises the rules on network traffic intelligence, allowing search criteria to be defined more precisely. The Finnish Border Guard would gain a new role, supporting Supo at its request in clearly defined situations.

The non-disclosure period for documents of Supo, the Ministry of the Interior and military intelligence would be extended to 60 years, according to the draft proposal the ministry sent out for comments in April. For documents on core areas of traditional foreign policy, the period would rise from 25 to 40 years.

Finland’s civilian intelligence legislation entered into force in 2019. The ministry says threats and intelligence targets have increasingly moved into information networks, particularly in state-sponsored espionage. The amendments are meant to enter into force as soon as possible.

Common questions about the article

Questions and answers generated automatically from the article content.

01What new powers would Supo gain under Finland's proposed legislation?

Supo would gain authority to target intelligence collection at information systems operated by state actors involved in serious national security threats, including systems located abroad. The proposal also revises network traffic intelligence rules, allowing more precise search criteria, according to the Ministry of the Interior. Last fact-checked: 2026-10-23.

02How would the Finnish Border Guard's role change under the proposal?

03When was the proposal submitted and when did Finland's civilian intelligence legislation originally take effect?