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Alleged subversive media efforts against Finland has become a public issue lately following the publication of a book by a Defence Forces researcher and the same- day announcement by the government to start training personnel to identify and combat misinformation.
A Finnish history analyst told Xinhua the current situation resembles the problems Finland faced from the West during the cold war, albeit now the other way around.
Researcher Saara Jantunen claims in her book that Russia is using information war tactics to create internal discord in Finland and to restrict the options of Finnish foreign policy.
Jantunen seems concerned in particular with pro-Moscow views placed on social media in Finland and the image of Finland that Russian media spreads internationally.
The book was published on Friday commercially by Otava and not by the Defence Forces.
Jantunen writes that Russian media has made Finland internationally an example of a country that "understands that its core interests are in close ties with Russia". Jantunen asks whether this is an attempt to create suspicion against Finland in the rest of the EU.
She says that Russian media gives the impression that Finland has already promised to stay outside NATO.
"If the Finns would act otherwise and apply for NATO membership, the Finns would emerge as traitors. And that would act as a way of mobilizing public opinion against Finland," She writes and concludes that one-sided news coverage would thus end up in exerting pressure against Finland.
Jantunen also claims that the alleged misinformation creates polarization within Finland.
She says that some controversial news items are first written by Russian loyalists in Finland, transmitted to Russian media and then given a Finnish social media follow up with a claim that "Finnish media had kept quiet". One such item had claimed Finnish security police launched investigation into the Finland-NATO host country agreement.
Other items are not necessarily related to Russia, but rather deal with potential societal problems or grievances in Finland.
Besides analyzing Russian media operations towards Finland, the book also has an agenda endorsing security policy cooperation between Finland and NATO.
Jantunen criticizes strongly the idea that Finland's foreign policy doctrine applied during cold war could still be usable.
She warns against a "redefined Paasikivi-Kekkonen" doctrine. Based on the names of the two post-war presidents of Finland, the doctrine underlined good relations with Moscow.
Jantunen shows no sympathy towards Finnish politicians and civil servants who harbour understanding towards Russian positions. She singles out Finnish experts and officials and known supporters of Russia.
Jantunen, 34, has done the voluntary national service for women. She holds the Doctorate of Military Science and the rank of sergeant. She became nationally known at least when attending the presidential summer seminar event in June 2015.
Talking to Xinhua, Timo Soikkanen, former professor of political history at Turku University and the official historian of the Foreign Ministry, expressed concern that those underlining the importance of the relationship with Moscow will now run the risk of being labeled as doing subversive work for Moscow.
Soikkanen noted that "geography remains as it was during the Paasikivi and Kekkonen era", despite the fact that they are long deceased. They both stressed the prevailing importance of geopolitical considerations.
Professor Soikkanen says that the current "information war" debate resembles somewhat the situation in 1970s and early 1980s.
"At that time Finland tried to ward off western claims about ' Finlandization' and that Finland excessively took Russian interests into consideration. Now Finland tries to avoid being seen as 'a grey zone'," Soikkanen noted.
In 1970s, western media kept badmouthing Finland despite persistent Finnish efforts in reminding that the country was a western democracy and that its security treaty with USSR was compatible with neutral foreign policy.
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in a TV interview on Saturday recognized the information situation mentioned in the book, but was careful not to comment on the NATO issue.
Asked what Finland would do if Sweden would join NATO, Niinisto said he does not comment on such matters as "the sky falling" either. He only said the Swedish government has said it would not apply for NATO membership.
On the "information war", Niinisto noted that all citizens are "as media consumers" defending the country. He underlined the responsibility of media with regard to giving correct information.
The publication of the book coincided with the announcement that initially one hundred Finnish civil servants will now be given training in combating false information.
The ongoing debate about "information war" has seemingly not affected Finnish-Russian relations in public.
The only notable administrative action by Finnish authorities was the high-profile denial when Russia was to apply for a licence for a radio station in Finland in August 2014. Voice of Russia then gave up the plan. Russia later launched a news agency that requires no license from Finnish authorities.
Commenting on the book, Unto Hamalainen, a political analyst at newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, said that he could well envisage Russian activity on the Finnish social media scene, if Finland would arrange a referendum on NATO membership.
"That would be a tough battle on the internet between the East and the West here," Hamalainen wrote.
Finland and its Nordic neighbor Sweden are not members of NATO. The current Finnish government said in its program published in May that Finland will maintain its national freedom of action in decisions concerning foreign and security policy.
Unlike the previous government, it has not excluded a NATO membership application. The government said it wanted to promote stability in the North and Baltic area. The governmental program singled out defence cooperation with Sweden and transatlantic cooperation.
It mentioned Russia as an important neighbor. The government said it pursues joint EU policies towards Russia but maintains also wide bilateral relations.
