The Local Sweden

Ten secrets you can't keep in Sweden

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 07:59:59 +0100

Given the Swedes have a reputation for being private people it might seem paradoxical then that many details you might consider to be deeply personal, from age to salary to your home address, are easily available to anyone who goes through the right process.

Millions of calls to Swedish healthcare hotline left unprotected online

Tue, 19 Feb 2019 08:58:23 +0100

For six years, the recordings of some 2.7 million confidential phonecalls made to Sweden's healthcare hotline, Vårdguiden 1177, were left accessible on an unprotected server online, Swedish media report.

Swedes least worried about internet snooping

Sun, 31 Jan 2016 11:41:55 +0100

Swedes are less worried about government, police and corporations snooping on them over the internet than any of the other nationalities surveyed by the privacy company F-Secure.

10,000 Swedes tell Google to forget them

Thu, 26 Nov 2015 16:21:02 +0100

According to fresh data, almost 10,000 Swedes have lodged privacy requests with American tech giant Google for search removals but only around 41 percent have been approved.

Lexbase set to reopen from California: report

Wed, 12 Feb 2014 18:31:00 +0100

Controversial website Lexbase, which lets Swedes pay to see their neighbours' criminal records, is set to reopen from servers in the United States with operators convinced it will make them "really rich".

Lexbase official quits as controversy rages

Tue, 28 Jan 2014 15:26:00 +0100

Lexbase, a site allowing Swedes to look up neighbour's criminal records, was embroiled in further controversy on Tuesday as its owner was revealed to have criminal connections and its spokesperson quit after reportedly receiving death threats.

Spy agency warns Swedes over 'leaky' apps

Tue, 28 Jan 2014 17:30:00 +0100

Revelations that using apps like Angry Birds on smartphones may make it easier for the NSA to gather data on unsuspecting Swedes has prompted a warning from Swedish spy agency FRA.

'Crime record site shows Sweden's constitution needs to be rewritten'

Tue, 28 Jan 2014 10:52:00 +0100

Sweden's constitution needs to be rewritten, the head of the country's main privacy watchdog has argued following the launch of a new website that lets Swedes download their neighbours' criminal records.

Site lets Swedes snoop on friends' criminal past

Mon, 27 Jan 2014 11:11:00 +0100

A new Swedish website that lets people check out their neighbours' criminal records has privacy experts up in arms, warning the site could breach the country's privacy and slander laws.

Swedish police want investigation drones

Thu, 23 Jan 2014 15:25:00 +0100

With Swedish police keen to add drones to their vehicle fleet, and commercial interest on the up, Sweden faces several questions about issuing permits for and restricting the use of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Swedes sound off on privacy: 'I don't care'

Sat, 07 Sep 2013 17:29:00 +0200

Following reports that a Swedish intelligence agency may have aided the NSA's controversial surveillance activities, The Local took to the streets of Stockholm to gauge Swedes' attitudes towards internet privacy.

Telia leaks customers' private phone logs

Tue, 13 Aug 2013 13:57:00 +0200

Swedish telecom firm Telia has come under fire after the company published customers' private information, leaked their bills online, and revealed lists of SMS and phone call recipients.

State cashes in on personal information

Sun, 04 Aug 2013 14:21:00 +0200

Government agencies are cashing in by selling personal information to advertising firms without Swedish citizens even knowing about it.

Tax Agency joins hunt for illegal immigrants

Tue, 02 Jul 2013 09:58:00 +0200

The Swedish police have managed to circumvent the Tax Agency's confidentiality concerns and access the records of twelve people working in Sweden without the necessary residence permits.

Sweden 'must raise its net freedom profile'

Thu, 30 May 2013 09:07:00 +0200

While promoting internet freedom is a policy priority for Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, Sweden's efforts remain largely unknown, according a new report that concludes Sweden needs to do more to raise its global profile as a leader on the issue.

'The future of freedom on the internet is at stake'

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:12:00 +0200

Internet policy experts gather in Stockholm this week to grapple with online data protection and surveillance issues that everyone who surfs the web should care about, reports technologist Stefan Geens.

Nordea tracked clients in secret 'black book'

Mon, 13 May 2013 10:52:00 +0200

One of Sweden's biggest banks kept a secret registry with thousands of names of people described as "jokers", "economic lunatics" and "gangster accountants" in what is being called a "black book" of clients the bank didn't want to do business with.

Sweden enters fray in EU data privacy fight

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 16:19:00 +0100

Swedish MEP Anna Maria Corazza Bildt and tech industry experts on Monday warned that draft legislation updating the EU's outdated data privacy protection rules pose a threat to Europe's competitiveness.

'Criminalize offensive online comments'

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 14:15:00 +0100

Sweden needs stronger legislation to deter internet bullying, the country's data privacy agency has argued, calling for tougher penalties for offensive comments posted online.

Rail service's hidden cameras 'illegal': agency

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:03:00 +0100

Sweden's national rail service, SJ, has been slammed by the Data Inspection Board (Datainspektionen) after it was discovered the company was filming staff with hidden cameras to stop widespread pilfering on trains.