Listen to the article
Finland’s media literacy efforts, which begin in preschool, are evolving to tackle the growing threat of AI-generated disinformation as geopolitical tensions with Russia intensify.
For decades, Finland has integrated media literacy into its education system, teaching children as young as 3 years old how to analyze different types of media and identify disinformation. This approach forms the cornerstone of the country’s comprehensive strategy to make citizens more resilient against propaganda and false claims, particularly those originating from across its 830-mile border with Russia.
“We think that having good media literacy skills is a very big civic skill,” explains Kiia Hakkala, a pedagogical specialist for the City of Helsinki. “It’s very important to the nation’s safety and to the safety of our democracy.”
The program has taken on renewed significance since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago, which prompted an increase in Russian disinformation campaigns across Europe. Finland’s NATO membership in 2023 further strained relations with Moscow, though Russia consistently denies interfering in other nations’ internal affairs.
At Tapanila Primary School in northern Helsinki, teacher Ville Vanhanen guides his fourth-grade students through exercises designed to help them distinguish between fact and fiction. During a recent class, 10-year-old Ilo Lindgren acknowledged the challenge: “It is a little bit hard.”
Vanhanen, who also serves as the school’s vice principal, notes that his students have been learning about disinformation for years, starting with analyzing headlines and short texts. Their education has now expanded to include AI literacy, with lessons focused on identifying AI-generated images and videos.
“We’ve been studying how to recognize if a picture or a video is made by AI,” Vanhanen said, emphasizing the increasing importance of this skill in today’s digital landscape.
Finnish media organizations actively support these educational initiatives. The industry organizes an annual “Newspaper Week,” distributing news content to young people nationwide. In 2024, Helsinki’s leading newspaper Helsingin Sanomat collaborated on a new “ABC Book of Media Literacy,” which was provided to every 15-year-old starting upper secondary school.
“It’s really important for us to be seen as a place where you can get information that’s been verified, that you can trust, and that’s done by people you know in a transparent way,” said Jussi Pullinen, the newspaper’s managing editor.
Media literacy has been formally integrated into Finland’s educational curriculum since the 1990s. The country also offers courses for older adults, who may be particularly vulnerable to misinformation. This comprehensive approach has consistently placed Finland at the top of the European Media Literacy Index, compiled by the Open Society Institute in Sofia, Bulgaria, between 2017 and 2023.
Finnish Education Minister Anders Adlercreutz reflects on the changing landscape: “I don’t think we envisioned that the world would look like this. That we would be bombarded with disinformation, that our institutions are challenged — our democracy really challenged — through disinformation.”
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence tools presents new challenges for educators and experts working to prepare the public to distinguish fact from fiction. Martha Turnbull, director of hybrid influence at the Helsinki-based European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, warns that the battle is becoming increasingly difficult.
“It already is much harder in the information space to spot what’s real and what’s not real,” Turnbull said. “It just so happens that right now, it’s reasonably easy to spot the AI-generated fakes because the quality of them isn’t as good as it could be. But as that technology develops, and particularly as we move toward things like agentic AI, I think that’s when it could become much more difficult for us to spot.”
As AI technology continues to evolve, Finland’s pioneering approach to media literacy education may provide a valuable model for other nations seeking to protect their citizens and democratic institutions from the growing threat of sophisticated disinformation.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
22 Comments
Finland’s emphasis on developing media literacy skills as early as preschool is a really proactive and farsighted approach. Giving citizens the tools to think critically about information sources is crucial for a healthy democracy.
I’m curious to see how Finland’s model evolves to address emerging threats like AI-generated disinformation in the years ahead.
Finland’s recognition that media literacy is a core civic skill worth teaching from a young age is really impressive. Arming citizens with the ability to discern fact from fiction is vital for safeguarding democracy.
Curious to see if this proactive, education-based approach yields measurable results in terms of reducing the impact of disinformation campaigns over time.
Integrating media analysis into the early education curriculum is a smart move by Finland. Developing critical thinking skills around information sources and verification is key to combating the spread of false narratives.
I wonder if this model could be scaled and adapted for use in other countries grappling with the challenge of disinformation.
Finland’s approach to media literacy education from a young age is really admirable. Developing critical thinking skills to identify disinformation is crucial for protecting democracy in the digital age.
I agree, this proactive strategy could serve as a model for other countries grappling with the rise of AI-powered fake news.
Finland’s proactive media literacy efforts, starting in preschool, demonstrate a deep commitment to safeguarding its democracy. Equipping the next generation with the tools to discern fact from fiction is crucial.
Definitely an approach other nations should consider adopting to build societal resilience against the growing scourge of disinformation.
It’s great to see Finland taking a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to combating disinformation. Integrating media analysis into the education system from preschool onward is a smart long-term strategy.
Hopefully other nations facing similar challenges with foreign-backed propaganda will look to Finland’s example and follow suit.
The inclusion of media literacy in Finland’s preschool curriculum is really forward-thinking. Catching disinformation at the source, before it spreads, is a smart approach.
Curious to see if other nations follow Finland’s lead and make media analysis a core component of early education programs.
Finland’s commitment to media literacy education from the preschool level is an impressive and forward-thinking strategy. Building citizens’ critical thinking skills around information sources is key to maintaining a well-informed populace.
I hope other countries facing challenges with disinformation can learn from Finland’s model and adapt it to their own contexts.
Kudos to Finland for making media literacy a core part of its education system. Equipping young people with the ability to identify and resist propaganda is an essential safeguard for democracy in the digital age.
It will be interesting to study the long-term societal impacts of this comprehensive, grassroots approach to combating misinformation.
Interesting to see how Finland is leveraging its education system to fortify citizens against propaganda and foreign interference. Equipping the next generation with media analysis skills is a wise long-term investment.
Indeed, as geopolitical tensions escalate, these kinds of comprehensive, grassroots efforts to build societal resilience will only become more important.
Given Russia’s history of information warfare, Finland’s focus on shoring up its citizens’ resilience against propaganda is well-justified. Nipping disinformation in the bud from a young age is a wise strategy.
It will be interesting to monitor the long-term impacts of this program and whether it helps Finland maintain a well-informed, critical-thinking populace.