Digitalisation in a new era
Digihumaus report 2026
Introduction
The 2026 Digihumaus report presents the Digital and Population Data Services Agency’s views on change trends that are shaping the world: digitalisation is deepening, the atmosphere of trust is eroding, there is an emphasis on security and democracy is being tested.
Our interpretations depict an uncertain and unpredictable operational environment. In a globally connected world, the forces of change also intersect and accelerate each other. This is highlighted in the report. In these times of global unrest, the Finnish public administration must act in a stable and predictable manner that promotes trust.
Digitalisation is deepening
Digitalisation is deepening in a technologically advanced society. Automation, artificial intelligence, and data mobility are in wide use. Rapidly developing technology and a changing security environment are driving digital development.
Digitalisation is an established operating method in public administration. The greatest challenges related to digitalisation are not technological, but concern regulation, societal and individual effects, the management of dependencies and the expediency of operations. At the same time, public administration will be operating with increasingly smaller resources in the future.
Large, cross-sectoral administrative digitalisation projects can easily grow too complex if they cross the limits of jurisdiction of several public authorities. The most efficient way to develop administration is to implement several smaller projects in which the limits of jurisdiction are not crossed extensively. Interoperability of data within administration should be promoted through functional and appropriate interfaces and legislative reforms that would enable the usability of information resources when necessary and once the risks of the cumulative effects of data have been assessed.
Investments in digitalisation and new technologies are needed in Finland and throughout Europe, but more efforts should be made to repeal regulations that prevent the development of automation. Rules-based automation and artificial intelligence improve everyday life the most effectively when they are utilised in the background and incorporated into systems, but their use must always be transparent. In this way, we can improve public administration while maintaining public trust in our services.
For consideration: The digitalisation of the Finnish public administration is still defined by the structures and statutes introduced when the use of online services was still marginal. A reform of the legal framework for administrative procedures and electronic transactions could improve public authorities’ possibilities to provide services that are widely beneficial to citizens and, on the other hand, cope with the scarcity of resources.
Atmosphere of trust is eroding
Polarisation of society weakens the atmosphere of trust. Maintaining trust requires continuous efforts and anticipation and management of risks. Rational, predictable and responsible governance creates stability.
In a challenging information environment, building trust is not an easy task. Individuals are expected to have the ability to identify reliable information, but polarisation and fundamentally different interpretations of the workings of the world make it difficult to find a mutual solution. Demographic changes reduce the flexibility to implement reforms and influence the prospects of Finnish society as age groups shrink.
Public administration can build trust by using joint resources efficiently to develop customer-oriented services. Based on the principle of legality, administration produces accessible, clear and intelligible public services and uses automated solutions responsibly. We have every opportunity to succeed in this, as high-quality public administration data is one of Finland’s greatest strengths. However, as the number of threats increases, we must be even more careful with the use of data. The Finnish comprehensive security model, facilitating close cooperation between public authorities, the private sector and the third sector, also improves preparedness. This model is widely known around the world.
A highly automated public administration must be understandable to its citizens. This will be possible when the legal basis for public administration has been written clearly and with a focus on digital activities. The trends affecting trust and digitalisation are thus very intricately linked
For consideration: In this operational environment, Finnish administrations legality and hight trustworthiness grow in importance. In the future, the cornerstone of trust in society will continue to be a responsible and digitally functioning public administration that produces equal and consistent administrative decisions for citizens.
Emphasis on security
Military crises, cyber threats and climate change weaken security. Misinformation and disinformation and the unpredictable impacts of artificial intelligence erode trust. The role and significance of civilian organisations as part of comprehensive security has grown. The culture of cooperation and the comprehensive security model help to manage threats.
In recent years, global political crises have attracted more attention at the expense of climate change. Future security threats are diverse and interlinked in a complex way. In the long term, climate change, biodiversity loss and depletion of natural resources are the most serious risks for humankind.
Digitalisation itself poses risks and increases vulnerabilities. Public authorities are in a continuous arms race with harmful operators in a combat against digital threats. On the other hand, digital working methods also increase resilience, when hard infrastructure is reliable and digital services are human-oriented.
Public digital infrastructure and the related support services are part of the critical infrastructure of society. Basic register authorities play an important role in ensuring the reliability and availability of information in all situations. A public administration that builds trust and is proactive takes care of infrastructure and the readiness of basic register authorities. Investments that reduce the maintenance backlog of digital infrastructure must be made in a timely manner so that outdated systems do not need to be replaced entirely at once with uncertain benefits.
For consideration: For a long time, basic digital infrastructure has played a critical role in our society, even though it may not be visible to the public. The related basic registers are maintained by a number of civilian organisations. Even in economically challenging times, these organisations must be provided with the opportunity to maintain and develop the operation of fundamental public databases. Only then will they be able to work alongside security organisations in all kinds of situations.
Democracy under test
Power politics, the rise of authoritarian regimes and the questioning of the rules-based approach are testing democracy and established practices. Unexpected developments pose challenges to Finland, which relies on the international agreement-based system. The unpredictability of global supply chains calls for European solutions.
The liberal world order is creaking, and adapting to the new geopolitical reality is difficult for the Nordic countries and the EU, as they rely on the rules-based approach. Democratic ideals are sustainable but require an in-depth understanding of society and active maintenance of complicity and freedom of speech instead of strong reactions.
The deepening digitalisation of public services seeks a balance and expediency between global solutions and European interoperability. We can find partners to promote responsible digitalisation with especially in Nordic and European countries that share our values and societal principles.
For consideration: The discussion on EU and national digital sovereignty highlights our dependency on service providers outside the EU in both the private and public sector. In essence, this is a question of trust in technologies, service providers and the EU’s agreement system. In any case, a contracting partner must be trustworthy, whether its ownership is in Finland, Europe or elsewhere. Unconsidered changes may not only have a negative impact on the functionality and data security of services but may also cause significant costs. That is why it is important to keep calm and carefully weigh the available options and their pros and cons.