The North Savo District Court has dismissed charges against a senior constable from the Eastern Finland Police Department who was accused of breaching his official duties and committing numerous data protection violations. The prosecution alleged that the under-30 police officer had accessed the personal information of nearly a hundred individuals without justification using the police's MobilePoke app in 2023. Initially, the prosecutor sought a penalty for 95 counts of breach of duty but later amended this to one count of breach and 45 counts of data protection offenses.

The prosecution referenced guidelines from the Police Administration stating that using the MobilePoke app during personal time is prohibited unless there is a justified official reason for doing so. MobilePoke is the mobile version of the police field management system, which contains similar data to the systems used in police vehicles. During the court hearings, the constable acknowledged viewing the information during his free time but denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that he believed his actions were justified.

This case raises substantial concerns regarding the proper use of law enforcement tools and the protection of personal data. While the court ruled in favor of the constable, it highlights the gray areas in policies about police officers' access to data in their off-duty hours. The ruling may set a precedent regarding how similar cases are approached in the future, particularly around the interpretation of justified use of police data access and the responsibilities of officers to comply with ethical standards even when off duty.