Sweden redraws it's internet surveillance law

Last week, the Swedish government made vital changes to the law they approved this summer.

According to Digi.no (sorry, only Norwegian), the Swedish government has changed the law, and there is no longer legal to do surveillance without consent.

In July, I covered the story when the Swedish approved the new law, allowing their police and surveillance teams to tap into ANY and ALL internet traffic that came through their country - no matter if there where any suspicions or not at hand. This meant that everyone suddenly became victims, and no-one would be able stay off their radar - innocent or not.

This time, the Swedish government where forced to redo the law. They had to add a quality control mechanism, something that has been a very well accepted rule in the western world for centuries - that any surveillance must be following (not followed by) a suspicion. Thus following the principle - innocent until proved guilty.

In the past (mainly since 9/11/2001), we have seen dramatic changes in how this principle is followed. Privacy is lessened by the day. Surveillance increases - with or without our consent. Our legal rights are set aside by the governments increased lack of control. And our politicians constantly fail to understand how technology changes the world - no, not slowly, but at speeds that keeps spinning the world around so fast that no-one are really able to grasp even the smallest of implications.

Today, laws tends to come around way too late to tackle the initial challenge. And instead of allowing the technology be an enabler, they tend to force into action regulations that are no longer relevant, to challenges no longer available.

I applaud the Swedish government for extremely quick action when they discovered their error. This kind of reaction is exactly what is required to stay up to date for any government. Don't just sit around, poking your stick in the ground, waiting for someone to decide for you.

Governments challenge is to turn their reactive regulations into proactive delegations. By using laws as enablers, as opposed to regulators as they are today, governments will be able to change the way we do business, and the way we use technology. And the way we interact.