Introduction

Finnwatch follows the ethical guidelines outlined in this document in its research work, data collection and communications related to research. 

The purpose of these guidelines is to ensure the transparency and quality of Finnwatch's research and publishing. Finnwatch's ethical guidelines are available to and can be evaluated by the public and external stakeholders.

Selection of subjects and research objects

Finnwatch chooses the subjects of its research and the topics of its communications in accordance with its own mission. The mission of the association is defined in the association's rules. Finnwatch can also carry out investigations on behalf of others, if the assignment is in line with Finnwatch's mission. In these cases, the commissioning party is mentioned in the publication. In order to maintain independence, assignments cannot be accepted from companies.

Finnwatch strives to choose the subjects of its research in an open and inclusive manner.

Research independence

Finnwatch defines independently the objects and methods of its research, and the decisions over the results or conclusions published by Finnwatch are not handed over to anyone outside the organization.

Use of external researchers

Finnwatch can also commission studies and articles from external researchers and authors, such as researchers familiar with a subject, investigative journalists or organizations working on the same themes. In general, external researchers and authors also follow this guideline.

If the external researchers do not comply with these guidelines in full or in part, it is mentioned separately in the publication they have authored. In the publication it is also explained what kind of research methods and what other ethical guidelines – such as another organization's guidelines or Journalist's Guidelines – the work is based on. If an external researcher or partner has been involved in a Finnwatch publication, it must always be clearly stated whether the conclusions are the views of Finnwatch or those of the partner.

When cooperating with researchers and/or research organizations from third countries, Finnwatch aims to support those organizations and researchers, and their research capacity. If necessary, support and guidance will also be given to ensure compliance with these guidelines.

Use of sources

Finnwatch always strives to provide truthful information. All information sources used in the research are carefully evaluated and the sources are viewed critically. Critical approach is especially important in controversial matters.

The topics investigated by Finnwatch typically involve strong interests. Parties that are subject to the research may try to make the investigative work more difficult (e.g. blocking access to a factory under the investigation), and the parties are also often the only possible sources of information about what goes on behind closed doors. Information obtained from different sources is verified from other sources if possible, but for justified reasons publication decisions can be made based on limited information. In this case, the reader is told how the information has been acquired and how the information source are connected to the topic. Within the limits set by the organization's resources, the reporting will be supplemented if new information becomes available later.

The credibility of information published by Finnwatch requires a sufficient number of oral sources of information to back it up. If the research results are generalized to represent a large group of people, the information sources must cover them sufficiently comprehensively in terms of, for example, number, age, gender and status. The reader should also be given information on the basis of which an assessment of representativeness has been made (for example, how many percent of the factory's employees have been interviewed).
Finnwatch conducts its research in such a way that the research does not lead to significant risks, damages or disadvantages to the people or communities that are the sources of information. If there are minors or disabled persons among the interviewees, heightened care is taken. In Finnwatch's work, the prevention of risks and harms means, for example, that pictures, names or other personal information of the interviewees are not published without informed consent from the interviewed person, and their identity is not made known to their employer in any other way either. Personal data received from the interviewed persons (e.g. pay slips, employment contracts) is handled responsibly. Personal data unrelated to the research is not collected.

Finnwatch also often uses information from the companies under investigation, whose representatives are asked for an interview or a statement. Company interviews are conducted in writing (e.g. via e-mail) whenever it is possible within schedules.

All interviewees are told in advance in which context the statements given by the interviewee will be used. The interviewee should always find out whether the conversation is intended to be published or only used as background material. The interviewees' demand not to publish their statement is accepted only if the circumstances have changed so substantially since the interview was given that publication would be clearly unreasonable. Interview notes and recordings are kept so that the statements can be checked afterwards if necessary.

Academic studies, reports from authorities and organizations, and the media can be used as written sources. The reader must always be told what kind of written sources the information is based on. Written sources are also treated critically, and possible interests of the sources relevant tothe research topic are made as transparent as possible.

Quality assurance

For the written reports and reports published by Finnwatch, an external expert is used to check the content of the report before publication. An internal inspection can be used if there is sufficient expertise in the field in question within the organization itself.

The right to check the information and publish a response

If the research concerns a company or other organization mentioned by name, the company/organization will be given the main research results concerning itself in advance, unless there is a strong reason to suspect that providing advance information would jeopardize the publication of the research results. The company/organization is given the opportunity to point out possible factual errors and provide additional information before publication, and sufficient time is given to respond. When it comes to an extensive report, the company/organization that is the subject of the report is generally given about two weeks to check the information about the company/organization itself. In shorter publications such as chapters of the report, articles, news stories, etc., the commenting time may be shorter. Factual errors will be corrected and the additional information provided by the company/organization at this stage will be taken into account in the final publication as far as possible. Finnwatch always has the final say over the content of its own publications.

Those who are subject to Finnwatch research also have the opportunity to publish their own response on Finnwatch's website. The response will be published as is and simultaneously with Finnwatch's own research. If the response is not publishable on Finnwatch's website as is, it will be edited in cooperation with the company/organization that provided it. If consensus cannot be reached, the key content of the response will be published in a factual manner. If the company/organization in question does not accept the publication in this manner, Finnwatch will present a public justification for rejecting the response on the website. In connection with such justification, a link to the original response by the company/organization will be included, if the response has been published on the company/organization's own website.

Publication

The title of a publication, its introductory texts, cover page texts and photo captions and accompanying press releases, must be backed by the contents of the publication.

Error correction

If factual errors are found in at publication after its publication, they will be corrected without delay on Finnwatch's website at the same URL address where the publication can be found. Corrections made after publication will be noted in the text.

Complaints procedure

If the research subject of Finnwatch considers that it has not been treated in accordance with these guidelines and an error has not been corrected by offering the right of for a statement and/or by correcting the incorrect information, the research subject can complain about it to the Finnwatch board. After receiving the complaint, the board requests a written account on the matter from Finnwatch's executive director.

Both the complaint and the written account will be discussed at the next board meeting. The board will provide the complainant with a written response within two weeks after the matter has been discussed by the board. Any incorrect information will be corrected publicly in the manner outlined in this instruction.

Journalistic work

Finnwatch also works on and publishes news and articles on its website that are not based on Finnwatch's own research (or Finnwatch's commissioned research). Producing news and other similar content published on websites is journalistic work, in which the Journalist's Guidelines are followed.

These ethical guidelines were approved by Finnwatch's board on September 15th, 2010, and they have been used in research projects started after the approval. The guidelines have been updated on February 9th 2011, December 14th 2012 and April 3rd 2023.

Access here Finnwatch's by-laws (approved by the Board on 15 November 2021, in Finnish).