Changes to incident communications
Rescue services will change how they communicate about incidents in 2026. This is part of wider changes to the rescue services information systems.
Rescue services have planned and prepared these changes with the Ministry of the Interior’s Department for Civil Protection and rescue departments.
Key changes
New media service
The current Peto media service has reached the end of its technical lifecycle and will close. A new media service will launch at the same time. The new service will collect announcements in one place. This will make information easier to find and follow. Media representatives will be able to follow announcements by rescue department. Rescue services will provide information in a consistent format. The aim is to make information easier to access and to improve consistency across the country.
Registration for media users will open 1–2 months before the change. Media organisations will be informed when registration starts.
Rescue departments in Finland are run by wellbeing services counties. They are responsible for communications in their own areas, including providing information about incidents. The Department for Civil Protection at the Ministry of the Interior is responsible for national technical systems and communications for rescue services. The Ministry cannot publish information where rescue departments have statutory responsibility for communications.
How this will work in practice
Rescue services will no longer publish automatic first announcements based on emergency calls. Information will be checked before publication to ensure it is accurate and reliable. This also protects the privacy of incident victims. For example, announcements may name an area instead of a full street address.
The media will mainly receive information through the new service. Both the media and the public will still receive information about rescue services operations quickly and at the right time. Rescue services will also continue to actively use their other channels, such as websites and social media.
Another aim of the changes is to improve secure data transfer and technical control of communications. The current security environment also requires ongoing improvements to the information security of technical systems.
What will remain the same
Rescue services will still report major incidents and situations that affect public safety. They will publish important information as quickly as possible. The aim is to provide reliable and up‑to‑date information about incidents.
The emergency warning system will remain the main way to alert the public. Its purpose is to quickly warn large numbers of people about threats to life, health, the environment or significant property, and to give instructions. In addition to emergency warnings, authorities may issue public announcements. These give instructions and information on situations that are not urgent emergencies but still matter to the public.
Emergency response centres will continue to send information automatically to organisations that support public authorities. For example, they will send information on serious incidents affecting road traffic to Fintraffic’s Road Traffic Centre, which is responsible for traffic announcements.
Timeline
1 September 2026: Automatic first announcements will end.
Autumn 2026: The new media service will launch and the current Peto media service will close. Details about registration and the launch will be shared separately with the media.
