Janne Naakka raises privacy concerns after HUS data breach in Uusimaa, Finland

Social media influencer and YouTuber Janne Naakka faced unsettling security concerns last summer after receiving an unexpected letter from HUS, the consortium responsible for specialized health care in Uusimaa, Finland. The letter informed him that an employee had accessed his personal information without permission. Initially, Naakka was uncertain about which specific details had been viewed, worrying that sensitive health records had been shared.

He subsequently searched online to check if his patient records had been leaked but found that this was not the case. However, he discovered that a HUS employee had accessed his personal data and appointment possibilities in 2021. The breach left Naakka feeling uneasy about his privacy regarding health services.

“The situation makes it stressful to visit the doctor,” he noted. Concerned about potential misuse of his personal data, he filed a police report. “I can never be certain if my information has been shared or could be used later,” he explained.

Following the incident, Naakka began questioning the adequacy of HUS’s oversight, particularly since he learned of the breach years later. Last year, a report revealed that three HUS employees had improperly accessed the information of 1,350 individuals.

Teppo Heikkilä, HUS’s Chief Administrative Physician, acknowledged that individual data protection violations are revealed annually, but last year’s breaches were distinct in their scale. After the reports, staff have become more vigilant regarding data privacy, with some taking extra precautions. Heikkilä stated that a new logging system is set to launch this year, aimed at improving oversight and preventing future incidents.