EIT:n suuri jaosto: Suomalaisten verotustietojen laajamittaisen julkaisemisen kieltäminen ei loukannut EIS 10 artiklaa

Euroopan ihmisoikeustuomioistuimen (EIT) suuri jaosto on eilen antamassaan Suomea koskeneessa ratkaisussaan katsonut äänin 10-2, että Suomi ei loukannut Veropörssi-nimistä lehteä julkaisseiden ja siihen liittynyttä palvelua tarjonneiden yhtiöiden sananvapautta kieltämällä verotustietojen laajamittaisen julkaisemisen (noin 1,2 miljoonaa henkilöä). Oikeudenkäynnin kesto oli kuitenkin loukannut EIS 6 (1) artikla.

EIT:n lehdistötiedotteesta:

After two companies had published the personal tax information of 1.2 million people, the domestic authorities ruled that such wholesale publication of personal data had been unlawful under data protection laws, and barred such mass publications in future. The companies complained to the European Court of Human Rights that the ban had violated their right to freedom of expression.

In today’s Grand Chamber judgment1 in the case of Satakunnan Markkinapörssi Oy and Satamedia Oy v. Finland (application no. 931/13) the Court held, by a majority of 15 to 2, that there had been no violation of Article 10 (freedom of expression) of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Court held that the ban had interfered with the companies’ freedom of expression. However, it had not violated Article 10 because it had been in accordance with the law, it had pursued the legitimate aim of protecting individuals’ privacy, and it had struck a fair balance between the right to privacy and the right to freedom of expression. In particular, the Court agreed with the conclusion of the domestic courts, that the mass collection and wholesale dissemination of taxation data had not contributed to a debate of public interest, and had not been for a solely journalistic purpose.

However, also by a majority of 15 to 2, the Court did find a violation of Article 6 § 1 (right to a fair hearing within a reasonable time), due to the excessive length of the proceedings (which had lasted over eight years).

Koko lehdistötiedote löytyy täältä: here
Ulkoministeriön tiedote löytyy täältä: Euroopan ihmisoikeustuomioistuimen suuren jaoston tuomio verotustietotapauksessa