Proposal: Extend powers to prevent cable damage

The Finnish Government is proposing that the Border Guard be granted extended powers to prevent damage to submarine cables.

Under the proposal, the Border Guard would be given the right to stop or halt acts of vandalism against critical submarine infrastructure.

Among other things, this would give the agency greater powers to intervene against unmanned vehicles, such as drones.

“One of the objectives of the Government Programme is to develop the powers of the Border Guard so that they correspond to today’s international and security policy environment,” writes the Ministry of the Interior in a press release.

In accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Border Guard would also be granted the right to stop and inspect vessels within Finland’s exclusive economic zone if the vessel is suspected of having no nationality.