Yle’s ethical reporting channel

Yle’s ethical reporting channel allows Yle employees, interest groups and partners to safely report any suspected cases of misconduct or other unethical activities in Yle's operations.

Responsibility is at the core of Yle's public service activities, and we are committed to acting responsibly in all situations. We comply with Yle’s ethical principles and other internal Yle guidelines. In addition, we require our partners to comply with our Yle Supplier Code of Conduct. However, if you notice any shortcomings in our activities, we encourage you to report them to us.

Your report can be related to unethical conduct or activities that violate the law, official regulations or Yle’s guidelines, such as non-compliance with public procurement regulations, disqualification in decision-making, bribery, personal data protection, inappropriate behaviour, or harassment.

Other feedback

Please note that this channel is not meant for customer feedback related to Yle’s contents, programmes or moderation decisions. This type of feedback can be sent to [email protected].

How we process reports

All reports of misconduct are treated confidentially and investigated independently. Our processing complies with the best data privacy practices. If necessary, you can submit your report anonymously.

Some reports may also fall within the scope of the EU Whistleblower Directive and the Act on the Protection of Persons Reporting Infringements of European Union and National Law, i.e. the Whistleblower Act, if the information concerning the misconduct was received in connection with a work performance. The Act’s exact scope of application can be reviewed here: Act on the Protection of Persons Reporting Infringements of European Union and National Law (Finlex, available in Finnish and Swedish).

However, the statutory protection of persons reporting infringements only applies to reports that fall within the scope of the Whistleblower Act. Any reports that do not fall within the scope of the Whistleblower Act will be reviewed by a panel appointed by Yle, in accordance with other valid laws applicable to the case and the principles of good administration. Yle will also use the best possible means to protect the person who submitted the report.

How we receive reports

Yle’s ethical reporting channel uses a platform provided by an impartial service provider. Yle or the service provider cannot identify the person submitting the report unless they provide their contact information. All reports are processed by a panel that is appointed by Yle and bound by strict confidentiality obligations. After receiving the report, the people reviewing it will assess the need for further investigation.

How we Investigate reports

The people reviewing the report will determine the appropriate investigation method. If necessary, they will ask follow-up questions through the anonymous reporting channel or be in contact through other means of communication provided by the person submitting the report. The people processing the report will determine whether it is

1. a report that falls within the scope of the Whistleblower Act,

2. some other report of misconduct;

3. a report that does fall within the scope of the reporting channel.

The report will not lead to an investigation if it is obvious that:

• the report does not fall within the scope of issues reported in accordance with this guideline, but is instead customer feedback related to Yle’s programmes, subscription services or moderation in which case please contact [email protected] or a possible request for rectification and response.

• there is not enough information available on the basis of the report or otherwise to allow for a more detailed investigation

• the reported matter has already been duly investigated, and the report does not contain any significant new information.

The person who submitted the report will receive a response within seven (7) days after submitting their report. The response will also indicate which processing category the report belongs to. If the report is clearly incomplete or unfounded, the person who submitted the report will be informed that their report will not be referred for processing or further actions.

All reports are always reviewed confidentially and in a manner that protects the identity of the person who submitted the report. Depending on the case at hand, the investigation may also require the assistance of other specialists or the authorities. The investigation will never involve a person who is the subject of the investigation or anyone who is connected to it.

The people processing the report or any other persons participating in the investigative process will not attempt to identify the person who submitted the report. If the person who submitted the report provided their own name, it will only be disclosed to those who will process the report. However, in some situations (especially in HR-related reports), the investigation of the case may require disclosing information related to the case (including the reporting person’s identity) to other parties involved or assisting in the investigative process. These parties are also bound by confidentiality obligations.

If the suspected misconduct meets the characteristics of a criminal offence, the police will be notified of the matter. If the person submitting the report has disclosed their identity, they will be informed of the possibility that their identity may be disclosed in connection with the authorities’ pre-trial investigation and during any legal trials.

How we store data

The personal data in a report will be deleted when it is no longer needed for any investigative and enforcement purposes, generally no later than one month (30 days) after the completion of the investigation. The investigation documents are anonymised and all name and address information is deleted, as well as any other information that would allow for the identification of the person, either directly or indirectly. The personal data of the persons specified in the report is subject to data protection legislation. The information received through the report will be deleted no later than five years after the arrival of the report, unless there is a necessary reason for storing it.

How to submit a report

If you wish to report a suspected case of misconduct, visit Yle’s ethical reporting channel through the link below. The report can be submitted under your own name or anonymously. The report can also be submitted by phone. After submitting your report, you will receive a code that you can use to return to the service. The system guides the person submitting the report, and it can also be used to communicate with the person who submitted the report, even if they submitted it anonymously.

Reports concerning the protection of personal data or the security of network and information systems can also be submitted to this address instead of the ethical reporting channel: [email protected]. However, in this case, we will not be able to ensure the protection of the reporting party described in the Whistleblower Act.

Alternatively, if a report falls within the general scope of the Whistleblower Act and the scenarios described in section 8 of that Act, it can be submitted to the centralised reporting channel maintained by the Office of the Chancellor of Justice. These include situations where the person submitting the report has a justified reason for believing that sufficient action has not been taken on the basis of the internal report within the prescribed time limit (section 16), that the infringement cannot be dealt with effectively on the basis of the internal report, or that the person who submitted the report has a justified reason to believe that they are at risk of being subjected to retaliation as a result of their report.

How we will respond to a report

We will respond within seven (7) days, and we will also inform the person who submitted the report of the processing category that the report falls under. If, however, the report is clearly incomplete or unfounded, we will respond that no further action will be taken. We may send the person additional questions through the reporting channel in the course of the investigation.

In addition to the aforementioned, if the report falls within the scope of the Whistleblower Act and the person who submitted the report disclosed their identity, we will notify them of any follow-up measures within three months. In the event that the investigative process exceeds this period, we will keep them informed of the investigation’s progress and conclusion.

The person who submitted the report will be informed of the results of the investigation into the allegations in the appropriate manner, taking into account the privacy of the individuals against whom the allegations have been made and any other issues related to confidentiality.