Communication and reliable information

Social media has some great things to offer – you can network with people all over the world, and it offers various opportunities to influence others.

However, internet is also full of false and misleading information, the purpose of which is to have the target make harmful decisions and to act against their own interests. This is referred to as information operations.

During disruptions you need to be well aware of what is going on and what you should do.
If the disruption is related to the power grid, communication channels will also be affected quickly.
In a power outage, internet and phone connections will work for two to six hours.
Once the information channels that rely on electricity drop off, you can actually only get information via a battery-powered radio.

Reliable sources of information include, among others, the social media channels of rescue departments as well as the communication channels of municipalities, electric companies and water companies..
The Emergency Response Centre Agency forwards emergency warnings issued by the authorities to the Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle). Local emergency warnings are transmitted via the radio. By the decision of the authorities, an emergency warning may also be issued nationwide, in which case it will also be broadcast on television. In this case, it will be shown on all Yle TV channels.
In addition, all public warnings are transmitted to the 112 mobile application, the 112.fi website, teletext page 112 and the Facebook and X accounts of the Emergency Response Centre Agency.

Information operations refer to systematic activities that aim to disrupt society’s functioning by influencing public opinion, human behaviour and decision-makers.
Information operations can be used, for example, to distract attention and distort the facts.
They can be used to discourage, concern or enrage people or worsen trust in the authorities.
However, not all false information is a form of information operations.

Disinformation and fake content: E.g. fake photos on social media. Disinformation can be created and shared by anyone and can be found in huge quantities on social media, for example. Everyone can also fight disinformation by not sharing questionable content and reporting it to moderators and admins.
Goal-oriented, manipulative information-based influencing: E.g. targeted misleading content, coercive or threatening communication and smear campaigns. Planned activities that involve the use of several different methods with the aim to influence people’s behaviour. The main responsibility for countermeasures lies with the authorities and other parties who monitor the information environment. In addition, actors such as the media play a role in reporting facts about information operations.
Interference by a foreign state: E.g. interference in elections and airspace violations. Activities that use goal-oriented, unlawful means. Responsibility for countermeasures lies only with the authorities and national governments in the manner prescribed by law.

Well, of course, the easiest way is to limit your exposure to social media.
Whenever you get sucked into social media, you can remind yourself that you are almost certainly being exposed to manipulation and fake content.
Learn to recognise rumours and speculation. Be suspicious of messages that are emotional or seem to state opinions rather than facts. Try to verify the information from other sources and compare different credible sources.
Don’t engage with malicious actors, as this can give disinformation more visibility.