Access to information and cultural contents: legislation, ethics & policy guidelines Minna Karvonen Director, Division for Art and Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Education and Culture The Marrakesh Treaty in Action Seminar, 12.3.2019 Organised by Celia, IFLA & the Finnish Library Association 19.4.2019

Finnish Library Network: Public Libraries & the Library for Visually Impaired (Celia) 19.4.2019

Finnish Public Libraries Operations organised by the local authorities Free for all and free of charge Regulated by the Public Library Act Jointly funded by the state and by local authorities, i.e. municipalities Total costs: 314 mill.€ / year 57 € / person / year

Finnish public library network consists of… in 295 existing munici- 719 public libraries Finnish public library network consists of… in 295 existing munici- palities 134 mobile libraries (book buses)

Finnish public libraries in 2017 16 lending / inhabitant Finnish public libraries in 2017 85 mill. total loans (5,5 mill. inhabitants) 9 visits / inhabitant

Finnish public library is… …most loved cultural service used by 80 % of inhabitants

Celia – Library for the Visually Impaired According to the Act on the Library for the Visually Impaired (638/1996), the aim of the organization (“Celia”) is to give persons with print disabilities an opportunity to receive information, to study and enjoy literature. Celia and public libraries have cooperated for decades in serving persons with print disabilities. Since 2013, they have jointly developed the Finnish Talking Book Service Model, where local public or university libraries serve as points of access to talking book services. Since the beginning of 2018, the model includes also schools and educational establishments. In early 2019, there are over 2,200 libraries and schools all over the country, where a print disabled person can access the service. The cooperation also includes the promotion of accessible, inclusive library services in general. Celia acts as the national center for accessible publishing and literature, and promotes accessible publishing among publishers and the public sector by recommendations, training and advice. 19.4.2019

International Treaties and Conventions & EU and National Legislation 19.4.2019

The Finnish Public Library Act 2016 https://www. finlex To promote: 2 § Objectives The objectives of this Act are to promote: equal opportunities for everyone to access education and culture; availability and use of information; reading culture and multiliteracy; opportunities for lifelong learning and competence development; active citizenship, democracy and freedom of expression. The implementation of these objectives is based on sense of community, pluralism and cultural diversity. the basic educational, cultural and linguistic rights inclusion participation ethical values of the society

The Finnish Public Library Act 6 § Duties of public libraries Public libraries are tasked with: 1) providing access to materials, information and cultural contents; 2) maintaining versatile and up-to-date collections; 3) promoting reading and literature; 4) providing information services, guidance and support in the acquisition and use of information and in versatile literacy skills; 5) providing premises for learning, recreational activities, working, and civic activities; 6) promoting social and cultural dialogue.

The Finnish Public Library Act 11 § Cooperation Public libraries operate and develop their operations in cooperation with other public libraries, the National Library of Finland, the National Repository Library, the Library for the Visually Impaired as well as other research libraries, libraries located at educational institutions and special libraries.   Public libraries may, for the purpose of performing the duties referred to in this Act, cooperate with authorities, actors in the library field, child daycare centres, schools and other educational institutions, and other corporations. 19.4.2019

Web accessibility legislation A government bill to provide digital services aiming at the national implementation of the EU directive on the accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies was submitted to the Parliament of Finland in May 2018 and will come into force in Spring 2019. “Public sector body” means the State, regional and local authorities governed by public law (e.g. state libraries, libraries of higher education bodies and public libraries) With this legislation Finland ensures that websites and public sector bodies meet the accessibility requirements. 19.4.2019

European Accessibility Act The accessibility act will establish European-wide accessibility principles instead of prescribing detailed technical solutions The European Accessibility Act will cover e.g. the following products and services: Computers and operating systems Telephones and smartphones E-books E-commerce Audiovisual media services such as television broadcast and related consumer equipment The act will support the EU Member States implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities 19.4.2019

The Marrakesh Treaty The WIPO-administered Marrakesh Treaty makes the production and international transfer of specially-adapted books for persons with print disabilities easier. EU level implementation: VIP directive (EU) 2017/1564 requires a mandatory exception in the exclusive rights of authors to produce and communicate accessible format copies of “a written work, a printed book, a sheet of music, or an image contained in such a work” 19.4.2019

Implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty in Finland Finnish implementation 8 November 2018 Finnish Copyright Act (404/1961) NEW 17 a-d §: complicated as detailed language  good practices being formed as rights are beneficial only if actions can be considered reasonable and balanced Key rights: Beneficiaries may access and authorized entities (which can be e.g. libraries or educational establishments) may produce and distribute accessible format copies Accessible format copies must be able to move across EEA

Information Policy: emerging new policy sector in Finland 19.4.2019

Dimensions of information policy WELL-BEING Information policy Policy actions geared towards contributing to good management and effective use of information can be characterised as information policy. Information policy is devised to promote collecting, opening, combining, sharing and storing data, as well as strengthening data protection and information security. Artificial Intelligence Information Data Ethics competitiveness Know-how Economy Digital Security security 19/04/2019 PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION citizen COMPANY

Photo: Helsinki Marketing/Tuomas Uusheimo Ad hoc ministerial steering group (9 ministers) and preparation group of representatives from all ministries (13). Open networked preparation. App. 200 people involved. Public hearing ended at 31.10.2018 Most comments very supportive. Finland needs information policy and this report is greeted. All comments evaluated in the co-work session of 8 ministries. Government report was accepted in the government session at 5.12.2018. Discussed in the Parliament in February and March 2019: positive & fruitful “Ethical information policy in the age of artificial intelligence” government report – background 19.4.2019

The report and the related public debate will contribute to: 1. Formulating a common and comprehensive information policy, tapping into the information principles in place in different fields. 2. Clarifying information policy guidelines and principles to strengthening the competitiveness. 3. Building an image of Finland as an attractive operating environment for the data economy. 4. Building a knowledge society that is sustainable in terms of human wellbeing, safety and the economic, social, cultural and environmental dimensions. 5. Evolving national vision on the basis of which Finland will make active and pioneering efforts to influence the international operating environment, commitments and regulatory framework relating to the use of information. 6. Consolidating the ethical values at the core of making information policy choices and developing artificial intelligence, including fundamental and human rights, social inclusion, responsibility, trust, safety and security 7. Strengthening the competitiveness and decision-making capacity against the new threats. The report and the related public debate will contribute to: 19.4.2019

Examples of policy guidelines The right of individuals to manage their personal data, i.e. My Data, will be reinforced. Ethics and values, and the opportunities and threats involved in new technologies will be subjected to continuous debate. Robots and AI systems will be built to promote wellbeing, to respect personal autonomy, individuals’ fundamental rights and demands for justice, and to avoid causing suffering. Efforts will be made to reinforce the role of libraries as environments enabling the acquisition of information, its creative use and informal learning. Active citizenship will be supported by making public data, functions and services accessible to everyone. Contributions will be made to consolidate and maintain the entire population’s broad base of competence and education, information literacy and digital skills within and outside the education system. The availability of information will be ensured by investing in data access, access control, quality and interoperability. Special measures will be geared towards consolidating the sense of social inclusion and participation opportunities among more vulnerable groups by means such as social innovations. Examples of policy guidelines 19.4.2019

Thank you! 19.4.2019

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