pic: tidbits.com
Measures to fight the rising crime rate in Sweden have been mentioned in this blog before. It’s been a month now since multi-party talks on crime fighting initiatives failed (see this post) and the Social Democrats, Green, and Center parties went out with their own 34-point to-do list. Today, the first (and as of yet, the only one) of these measures is ready to be sent out for comments (remissvar).
This first measure out concerns making it easier for the police to plant programs on private mobile telephones. The programs would allow them to decrypt text messages sent on the mobile and listen in on conversations. In some cases, they will even be able to control the mobile phone’s camera and microphone. It will not be allowed, however, to implant these programs in phones belonging to people in some professions, like doctors, journalists and lawyers.
This measure is not going to be widely used, Minister for Home Affairs Mikael Damberg was careful to point out. It will only be used in cases of “serious criminality” (allvarlig brottslighet). “This is what the police and prosecutor have wanted almost the most” he said (DN.se/avlyssning).
The Moderate party was positive to this measure, saying it’s what they’ve wanted ever since the beginning. In fact, they would have liked to see an even stronger list of measures, that would actually “break the pattern and make a difference” said John Forsell, Moderate party spokesperson (DN.se/avlyssning).
Assuming the comments from the various review committees are positive, the new law is meant to go into effect March 1, 2020.