Amendment to Territorial Surveillance Act specifies restrictions on aerial photography

Amendment to the Territorial Surveillance Act (755/2000), Section 14, specifies restrictions on photography from aircraft and other aerial vehicles or devices.

By law, a permit is required to photograph or otherwise gather information from the air within Finnish territory in the following areas:

• areas that are permanently restricted to aerial trafficFile opens in a new tabpdf109kB (EFR11, 12, 35, 37, 43, 45, 54, 100, 123, 124, 125, 126, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 136, 138, 140 and 141)
• fortifications, forts and areas used by the Finnish Defence Forces and the Border Guard.
• military ports or military air bases (also temporary military areas, for example those established for an exercise or visits of foreign navy vessels)
• the FDF depots or storages
• the FDF signal stations, antenna sites and other defence equipment or materiel
• the FDF or Border Guard exercises (including exercises at sea)

The most notable change concerns photographing or information gathering of foreign armed forces in the Finnish territory. This means, for example, that photographing of foreign forces, vehicles or vessels participating in international exercises in the Finnish territory is not allowed without appropriate authorization.

The FDF is the legitimate authority processing applications for aerial photography permits. The permit procedure itself has not changed; rather, the amendment makes restrictions in certain areas and in certain aspects more specific.

More information about restrictions on aerial photography and the permit application process can be found here.