The constitution of Finland guarantees every citizen freedom of speech. However in case of audiovisual programmes the freedom of speech of minors may be restricted when necessary for the protection of children.

The primary purpose of the classification of audiovisual programs is to protect children. Together with the primary cause the classification authority shall keep in mind that the freedom of speech of minors is not groundlessly inhibited. These partly antagonistic missions are dealt with age categorisation.

The classification of audiovisual programs is provided for in the Act on the Classification of Audiovisual Programmes (L 775/2000).

The inspection of films and other audiovisual programmes shall belong to the Finnish Board of Film Classification, which is subordinate to the Ministry of Education. The duty of the Finnish Board of Film Classification shall be to act as the classification authority referred to in the Act on the Classification of Audiovisual Programmes (775/2000).

The duties of the Finnish Board of Film Classification is to classify all audio-visual programmes which are publicly exhibited or distributed to persons who have not attained the age of 18 as well as register all unclassified audio-visual and inter-active audio-visual programmes.

Possible age categories are 7, 11, 13, 15 and 18. A programme may also be allowed for children in all ages if it does not contain harmful material. An audio-visual programme shall be considered harmful to the development of children when it is likely to have a detrimental effect on the development of children through its violent, sexual or horrific content or in a comparable manner.

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