A broad coalition consisting of CDT Europe and 236 organizations, companies, and cybersecurity experts is urging the Swedish Parliament to reject a draft legislation concerning encryption. The coalition, which includes members of the Global Encryption Coalition from 50 countries, argues that the proposed laws intended to fight crime would actually undermine security. They believe the legislation would introduce vulnerabilities exploitable by cybercriminals and hostile actors, effectively compromising Sweden's overall security landscape.
The proposed legislation would obligate companies to store and grant law enforcement agencies access to encrypted communications, essentially creating an encryption backdoor. Security experts, including representatives from the Swedish Armed Forces, assert that such backdoors would weaken security, making private data more susceptible to cyberattacks and espionage. This could result in encrypted service providers reassessing their market involvement in Sweden due to potential user security compromises.
Those most reliant on encryption, such as journalists, activists, survivors of domestic violence, and marginalized communities, would be particularly at risk if the legislation passes. International human rights organizations have affirmed the critical importance of encryption in safeguarding privacy and free expression. Furthermore, weakening encryption poses a threat to national security, with the Swedish Armed Forces actively endorsing encrypted tools like Signal for securing communications in national security contexts, specifically for non-classified matters.
There is a call for Sweden to adopt modern, targeted investigative techniques that maintain digital security and support encryption for all users, rather than implementing measures that could compromise these protections. The coalition urges the Swedish Parliament to dismiss the proposed legislation, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding Sweden’s security, privacy, and digital future.