For decades, Finland has integrated media literacy into its national curriculum, starting with preschool students, to equip its citizens with the tools to identify disinformation. This proactive approach is now expanding to include AI literacy, driven by the escalating use of artificial intelligence in spreading false narratives, particularly from neighboring Russia.
Decades of Media Literacy as National Security
Finland’s commitment to media literacy isn’t merely academic; it’s considered a core component of national security. The country’s 1,340-kilometer border with Russia underscores the strategic importance of a population resilient to propaganda and false claims. Since the 1990s, the curriculum has evolved to address emerging threats, now including deepfakes and AI-generated misinformation.
“We think that having good media literacy skills is a very big civic skill,” says 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.”
AI Literacy: The Next Frontier
The urgency to incorporate AI literacy into education has intensified following Russia’s increased disinformation campaigns in Europe after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Finland’s recent accession to NATO in 2023 further heightened tensions, though Moscow denies interference in other countries’ affairs.
Teachers like Ville Vanhanen at Tapanila Primary School are already teaching fourth-graders how to evaluate online content. Students are learning to identify manipulated images and videos, a skill that will become increasingly critical as AI tools advance.
Collaborative Effort: Media, Education, and Government
Finland’s approach isn’t limited to schools. Media organizations, such as Helsingin Sanomat, actively participate by distributing verified news and educational materials, including the “ABC Book of Media Literacy” to every 15-year-old. This collaborative effort between education, media, and government creates a robust system for countering disinformation.
“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,” explains Jussi Pullinen, managing editor of Helsingin Sanomat.
The Rising Challenge of AI-Generated Fakes
Experts warn that as AI technology improves, distinguishing between real and fake content will become exponentially harder. Martha Turnbull, director of hybrid influence at the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, notes that current AI-generated fakes are still relatively easy to spot due to their lower quality. However, this advantage won’t last.
“It already is much harder in the information space to spot what’s real and what’s not real,” Turnbull says. “As that technology develops, particularly as we move toward things like agentic AI, I think that’s when it could become much more difficult for us to spot.”
Finland’s early and comprehensive approach to media and AI literacy positions it as a leader in countering disinformation, but the ongoing evolution of AI requires continuous adaptation and vigilance. The stakes are high: the future of democracy depends on a population that can critically evaluate the information it consumes.
