Image: Jammerall.com
What’s new: The government of Finland is proposing legislation to make unauthorized possession RF jammers illegal.
Why it’s important:
- Jammers are frequently tools for other criminal activity.
- In many nations (like the U.S.) its OK to have a jammer, just not to use it. That makes enforcement much more difficult.
What else to know:
- Europe’s STRIKE3 project found 450,000+ signals that could interfere with GNSS reception. About 45,000 were deemed deliberate interference. For the deliberate events, over 300 ‘jammer families’ were identified.
- Effective deterrence requires laws like these. Also the ability to be able to detect interference events, and to respond to them and enforce the law.
- Small GNSS interference detection devices from RNTF members like Chronos and GPSPatron fit in a shirt pocket and could become part of every police officer’s kit.
- The government of Mexico enacted a similar law saying that 85% of cargo thefts had some kind of interference device involved.
Government proposes to criminalise unauthorised possession of jammers
On 19 February 2026, the Finnish Government submitted a legislative proposal to Parliament on amending the legislation on devices intended for deliberate radio interference, also known as jammers. The amendments would be made to the Act on Electronic Communications Services.
The Government proposes to amend the provisions on equipment that jam or spoof radio communications. Mobile communications networks and satellite positioning systems, such as GPS, are examples of systems that use radio communications.
The proposal to criminalise the unauthorised possession and import of jammers would enable their confiscation. Unauthorised use of jammers is already banned. The proposal would introduce a distinct definition for jammers, separate from radio equipment. This would allow stricter regulation for jammers. Criminalising the unauthorised possession of jammers would improve the authorities’ possibilities to intervene in the unauthorised possession and import of such devices.
The amendment would set clearer conditions for the use and possession of jammers for the authorities and other authorised parties. The possession and use of jammers for research and product development would be permitted under a licence if certain conditions are met.
The proposal would also introduce exceptions for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and its member states regarding the right of the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) to check radio equipment or jammers and confiscate them for inspection.
What’s next?
Parliament will first hold a referral debate on the government proposal in a plenary session. The proposal will then proceed to a committee reading. Following the committee report, the debate will continue in a plenary session.
The Act is scheduled to enter into force on 1 July 2026.
Inquiries:
Sami Makkonen, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 342 019, sami.makkonen@gov.fi
