Erkki Tori: State institutions need faster powers to restrict free speech in crisis

Erkki Tori, the State Chancellery coordination director, explains why four state institutions should be granted additional authority to restrict free speech during crises or wartime. In his view, government orders may not be fast enough when public information threatens security or national defence. The Media Council has raised questions about the justification for such restrictions.

The State Chancellery coordination director Erkki Tori has begun explaining a proposal under which four state institutions would be granted broader powers in a crisis or wartime situation to limit the circulation of public information than they currently possess. According to Tori, the questions raised by the Media Council regarding restrictions on freedom of expression are timely and merit substantive discussion.

Why faster response is necessary

According to Tori's explanation, the core problem is the time factor: currently, restricting free speech requires a government order, which in a critical situation could prove too slow. When publicly circulated information directly threatens people's lives and safety or reveals information sensitive to national defence, the state needs, in his view, tools for faster response.

It is therefore proposed to grant four specific state institutions additional authority that would allow them to place restrictions on the circulation of certain information without requiring a separate government-level decision each time. Tori emphasised that this is not a measure for ordinary circumstances, but a tool to be deployed only during crisis or wartime.

Media Council's concerns are legitimate

The coordination director acknowledged that the Media Council's questions are substantive and must be taken seriously. Freedom to publish and disseminate information is a cornerstone of a democratic society, which is why every such restriction must be clearly justified, proportionate, and time-limited.

The debate raises a broader question of how to balance national defence needs and press freedom in extraordinary circumstances. The deterioration of Estonia's security situation has prompted lawmakers to seek solutions that would allow the state to respond more effectively to threatening situations while maintaining the principles of a democratic rule of law.