Finland has developed a long-term approach to fighting fake news by teaching media literacy from early childhood. Since the 1990s, media education has been part of the national school curriculum, with lessons starting in preschool classrooms. The program operates nationwide, including schools in Helsinki and other cities, and focuses on helping students understand news, advertising, and online information. The policy gained stronger attention after 2022, when the war in Ukraine increased concerns about disinformation in Europe, and after Finland joined NATO in 2023. Officials stated that the goal is to protect democracy and social stability by strengthening public resilience against false or misleading claims. Finland, a country of about 5.6 million people, regularly ranks first in the European Media Literacy Index, which measures how well countries respond to misinformation. Experts have linked this success to consistent education and cooperation between schools, media organizations, and public institutions.

In classrooms, students learn how to check sources, compare headlines, and question images shared online. Teachers explain methods used to scrutinize news stories, including identifying emotional language and missing information. Recent lessons also address artificial intelligence, as the proliferation of AI-generated images and videos has increased online risks. Media companies support schools through programs such as Newspaper Week, which provides free access to verified news. Researchers from security centers in Helsinki warned that future AI tools may create more convincing false content, increasing the implications for public trust. At the same time, specialists noted that early education can limit long-term risks by building critical thinking skills. Finland has also expanded media courses for adults, especially older citizens, to address challenges linked to digital change and increasingly autonomous technologies.