EU member state · European Union
Finland: cyberbullying law for schools
Bottom line for counselors: Schools must have anti-bullying rules, and those rules cover online bullying. Takedown help is limited, so report harmful posts to the platform first. Some online abuse can be a crime under general laws.
Last verified: checked against official sources on 11 November 2026.
EU member state
Finland
Anti-bullying plan by law; phones banned in lessons since 2025.
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One point for each of the seven questions answered yes, half a point for partly. Where a rule is set nationally, the national answer counts. A quick guide, not a legal rating.
- Yes:
Do schools have to have anti-bullying rules?
Yes. Every school must have a plan to protect pupils from violence, bullying and harassment.
Legal detail and sources
Official name: Perusopetuslaki (Basic Education Act), section 29.
- Yes:
Do those rules cover online bullying?
Yes. The plan covers bullying in all forms, including online.
- Partly:
Is there a regulator that can get harmful posts taken down?
Partly. Under the EU Digital Services Act, platforms must act on reports of illegal content, trusted flaggers get priority, and you can complain to the national Digital Services Coordinator. There is no national body that orders individual posts down for bullying alone.
Legal detail and sources
The national Safer Internet Centre runs a helpline that can escalate cases to platforms.
- Partly:
Is there a minimum age for social media?
No ban in force. Children can sign up to apps that use their data from age 13 without a parent's consent.
Legal detail and sources
This is the 'digital age of consent' each country sets under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), article 8. An EU KIDS Act proposed in September 2026 would bar under-13s from social media EU-wide and set 15 as the age for a child's own account; it is not yet law.
- Yes:
What are the rules on phones at school?
Phones are banned during lessons by law since 1 August 2025, unless a teacher allows them for learning or health. Many schools also ban them at breaks.
Legal detail and sources
Amendment to the Basic Education Act. Staff may confiscate devices.
- Partly:
When is online abuse a crime?
There is no single cyberbullying offence. Online abuse can be a crime when it becomes harassment, threats, stalking, defamation or sharing intimate images without consent.
- Partly:
What guidance do staff and counselors get?
Guidance comes from the education ministry and the national Safer Internet Centre, which offers a helpline and resources for schools.
Legal detail and sources
The EU's 2026 Action plan against cyberbullying promises more training and resources for schools.
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