Our last writing about Nokia, Finland and Microsoft received a lot of attention for no obvious reason, but it did provide some insights from a reader and explored Microsoft's influence in that nation, which is typically associated with Linus Torvalds.

Consider this an update filled with facts. Once again, the information comes from a reader who is a researcher. He wishes to share this information and have it reach a broader readership. Here it goes:

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Minister Suvi Lindén in Finland is catching flak for censoring a lot of political web sites under the smoke screen of kiddie porn. She is also catching flak for being involved in the recent ISO BRM fiasco in Geneva where Finland somehow decided to vote in favor of the Microsoft specification.

[Ed: In order for you to remember the recent proxy story, see this. The Register covered it also (among many other sites).]

“The media in Finland, as elsewhere, is both influenced and operated by many people with involvement in the Microsoft movement and thus do not cover these issues unless forced.”The petition requesting her dismissal is pushing close 15,000 names. The media in Finland, as elsewhere, is both influenced and operated by many people with involvement in the Microsoft movement and thus do not cover these issues unless forced. Even then, the issues are downplayed or misrepresented.

There should be English language material around.

[Ed: see this update about OOXML in Finland and follow the links therein for more information]

Suvi Lindén, who was apparently at the Geneva BRM, is Finland's minister for communication.

The Ministry of Communications is also responsible for YLE, broadcasting in Finland. (1) YLE is under fire for locking its archives into Microsoft. (2) YLE was under fire for a scandal a few years ago where all the qualified candidates were passed over without explanation (4) and a Microsoft employee was appointed with no discussion. However, that second scandal predates her tenure (4).

(1)	http://yle.fi/fbc/actyle.shtml





(2)	http://openlife.cc/node/95





(3)	a) http://www.ebu.ch/en/union/news/2004/tcm_6-18586.php
	b) citation for article criticizing the selection process





[note - all the articles critical of Jungner's selection are gone from
the net apparently, I gave up after 1.5 hours searching]





Citation from "Hufvudstadsbladet"
       Referens: 181024 (24/500)
          Arkiv: A801
        Tidning: HBL
          Datum: 19.11.2004 (09.12.2004)
           Sida: 6
     Artikeltyp: Nyhet
           NivÃ¥: Allmänt
         Rubrik: SDP-POLITIKER RISAR VALET AV MIKAEL JUNGNER
       Landskod: Finland
       Signatur: Laurén Anna-Lena
        Klasser: 801
       Ämnesord: television, radio, Yle,
		 Rundradion, direktörer, utnämningar, Jungner





(4) http://www.mintc.fi/oliver/upl116-Curriculum%20vitae%20-%20Suvi%... [PDF]

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There might be more grounds to explore, so watch this space. ⬆