The Prime Minister's Office has published its first annual review of information influence efforts against Finland.
The report, issued on Wednesday, analyses information influence activities targeting Finland, shedding light on Russian rhetoric and means of exerting influence. It is based on public sources.
According to the review, Finland is not currently being targeted by exceptional information influence and is not a primary target of Russia.
Kremlin influence efforts concentrate on threatening and inflammatory rhetoric about supporting Ukraine and Nato, the report says.
According to the study, Russia now treats Finland in the same aggressive manner as other Nato countries. Finland joined the alliance nearly two years ago.
Threatening, fearmongering rhetoric
The review, drawn up by the Strategic Communications Team at the Prime Minister's Office, is to be published annually in the future.
"There has been a lot of talk about changes in the information environment over the past few years, and people are clearly interested in the topic. Prior to this, there has been no overview of information influence activities available to the public. This is one way the authorities can use their expertise to provide more information and contribute to the discussion," Päivi Paasikoski, Director General of the Prime Minister's Office, said in a statement on Wednesday.
According to the document, Moscow’s mis- and disinformation activities focus on threatening and fearmongering rhetoric, which it seeks to bring into the public debate in target countries. These narratives include framing Nato as aggressive, criticising support for Ukraine and questioning Western sanctions.
Last year, experts warned Yle that Russian disinformation methods were becoming more sophisticated.