European Daily News
May 21, 2014
After Christmas, it will be possible for prosecutors to take criminal action against Swedes who criticize immigrants or people in authority online after a Constitutional Committee’s report on the matter has been voted in parliament, seen in a letter from the Parliamentary Offices .
Member of Parliament Andrew Norlén (M), member of the Constitutional Committee, has been pushing the issue and he says it will rapidly become a deterrent.
I do not think it takes very many prosecutions before a signal is transmitted in the community that the internet is not a lawless country – the sheriff is back in town, said Andreas Norlén, during an unchallenged debate the issue in parliament.
With the change in the law no longer will “slanderous” comments be made without prosecution which is expected to lead to more charges of libel and slander brought.
People who are especially helped by the new law are immigrants, LGBTQ people and government officials, who can now let prosecutors pursue a common insult to the public prosecution. Frequently Swedes are not covered by the new law.
The full parliament endorses legislative changes, which will be partially introduced in the summer but fully only in January after the election, when the constitutional changes proposed require.