Lex Snowden: Finns are aiming to provide whistleblowers political asylum via a citizens initiative
A Citizen Initiative dubbed Yes we can - Law for protecting freedom of speach and privacy internationally (Lex Snowden) calls for the criminalisation of spying on citizens and for a safe harbour for whistleblowers in Finland
The initiative proposes to criminalize spying on Finnish citizens. Companies taking part in spying on Finnish citizens could be prosecuted even if the crimes take place beyond Finnish borders and such companies could face a penalty of up to 25% of their turnover. In addition operators would need to disclose real-time information about all data requests by the government regarding personal communications.
Whistleblowers who disclose information about any material breaches of basic rights - the right to secure communications being such a basic right in Finland - would be granted safe passage and residence permit in Finland even if they do not carry a valid passport.
“Edward Snowden has been deprived of his right to effectively apply for political asylum by cancelling his passport. The law we are proposing would give Snowden safe passage to and residence in Finland and ensure that similar breaches of basic human rights will not go unrevealed in the future” says Joonas Pekkanen, chairman of Open Ministry a civil society organization focusing on improving the Finnish legislation through citizens initiatives. Citizens initiatives became possible in Finland in 2012 when a constititional amendment made it possible for 50 000 citizens to put bills directly on the parliaments agenda.
The campaign is organized by Electronic Frontier Finland (www.effi.org). Open Ministry and Effi have recently co-operated also on the internationally covered campaign to improve the copyright legislation in Finland. “We hope that this Lex Snowden initiative will also help us reach to 50 000 target for the copyright initiative within the remaining two weeks” says Pekkanen. The citizens initiatives have six months to gather the needed support which amounts to 1,2% of the voting population.
For more information:
Joonas Pekkanen, Open Ministry chairman (www.openministry.info) [email protected], mobile +358 505 846 800
Links:
The fill law proposal (in Finnish) on the Ministry of Justice’s website: https://www.kansalaisaloite.fi/fi/aloite/442
The campaign Facebook page (in Finnish): https://www.facebook.com/LexSnowden
The campaign page on Effi’s website: http://snowden.effi.org/