Laki kuvaohjelmista, Audiovisual-Programme Classification, Age-Limit Marking and Minor-Access Duties
Laki kuvaohjelmista (710/2011), as amended, secs. 2, 5, 6, 16, 36
A citation is an address, not a summary. The first part names the law; what follows narrows it to the exact section, article or paragraph.
In force since 1 January 2012.
An adult content age verification (AV) rule binding public and private bodies.
As of 6 September 2026.
What this law does
Drafted with AI from the cited sources under the direction of UnGovr staff. UnGovr holds editorial responsibility for this page.
Section 5 lets a provider offer an audiovisual programme only if it carries a clearly visible age-limit and content mark under Section 16, or, for a programme unambiguously intended only for those 18 and older, a clear mark of the 18-year age limit alone. Section 16 requires a programme harmful to a child's development to be classified 7, 12, 16, or 18 years with a content symbol, and lets a programme intended solely for adults skip classification if it instead carries the 18-year mark.
Section 6 prohibits offering a programme rated 18 to a minor at all, subject to a broadcast-timing exception. The same section requires the provider to keep a programme rated 7, 12, or 16 from being watched by a younger child through broadcast timing, making a blocking service available, or otherwise verifying age when the programme is offered. The National Audiovisual Institute supervises compliance and maintains the public register of classified programmes under Sections 17 and 18.
If you get it wrong
Criminal exposureYes
Criminal exposure note
Section 36 punishes intentionally or through gross negligence failing to notify the offering of audiovisual programmes, offering a programme not classified and marked as Section 5 requires, classifying a programme without the Section 12 right to act as a classifier, failing to make the Section 17 listing, or failing to supply a programme to the National Audiovisual Institute on request, as a kuvaohjelmarikkomus (audiovisual-programme violation) punishable by a fine, unless Criminal Code (Rikoslaki, 39/1889) Chapter 17, Section 18b applies instead. That section separately punishes publicly showing, distributing, or otherwise making available to a person younger than eighteen an unclassified programme lacking the required 18-year marking, or a programme rated 18, by a fine or imprisonment for at most six months.
Who enforces it
Enforcement body
Kansallinen audiovisuaalinen instituutti (National Audiovisual Institute, KAVI), the supervisory authority for audiovisual-programme classification and marking under Section 19.
What it reaches
Obligation class
Age verification, Prohibition
When LexLint raises it
publishes_adult_content
Read the law
Finlex, official consolidated text of Laki kuvaohjelmista (710/2011)