2024-02-282023/24:FöU5 · p.3FöUDefence
Appropriate intelligence operations
A fit-for-purpose intelligence service in signals intelligence
What's at stake: Signals intelligence gives authorities unique knowledge of threats from foreign powers and terrorism, but the activity touches on citizens' personal privacy and depends on trust that the safeguards work. The outcome affects how closely the government needs to regulate and review the activity going forward.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether Sweden's signals intelligence within defence intelligence operations is already sufficiently regulated, delimited and fit for purpose, or whether further measures are needed to better safeguard both security and privacy.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The Committee shares the government's assessment that the signals intelligence activity is a necessary part of Sweden's defence and that privacy protection already functions as the legislation intends. Since a broad review of the Signals Intelligence Act is under way, the Committee does not want to pre-empt it, and therefore rejects the motion for tighter regulation.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 2 (MP)
The reservation (MP) wants the government to actively work toward a clearly regulated, delimited and fit-for-purpose intelligence service, with scope for independent review even of classified activity. The reasoning is that broad cooperation between Swedish and foreign authorities would otherwise risk becoming a threat to privacy and human rights.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 2 by MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have held
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: VVänsterpartiet
Ja 280–15Ja 261–34
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 19/0/0/5 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | No | Yes 92/0/0/14 | differs | confidence: low | derived |
| MP | No | No 0/15/0/3 | match | confidence: high | derived |
| C | No | Yes 19/0/0/5 | differs | confidence: high | derived |
| L | No | Yes 12/0/0/4 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | No | Yes 59/0/0/9 | differs | confidence: low | derived |
| SD | No | Yes 61/0/0/11 | differs | confidence: low | derived |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects motion 2023/24:2450 by Emma Berginger et al. (MP) demands 44 and 45.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2023/24:2450 av Emma Berginger m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 44 och 45.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag has considered a communication from the government concerning privacy protection in signal intelligence in defense intelligence activities. Signal intelligence is part of Sweden's defense and protection against terrorism and is regulated by law. The State Inspection for Defense Intelligence Activities, Siun, is responsible for ensuring that defense intelligence activities are conducted in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. To protect individuals' personal privacy, there are clear rules for how signal intelligence may be conducted. The government assesses that Siun's review of the signal intelligence conducted in 2022 has functioned well. The Riksdag shares the government's view that signal intelligence activities are a necessary and integrated part of Sweden's defense and protection against terrorism, and that in a democratic state governed by law, well-functioning privacy protection is required in this context. The Riksdag laid the communication to the files, that is, closed the case. The Riksdag also rejected the motion demands.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants Swedish intelligence activities to be clearly regulated and enable independent review. (MP) — Reservation 2
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan requires that growing surveillance and registration be counteracted and that everyone has the right to a broad private sphere, and that there are effective and independent systems to monitor the occupational groups that get to exercise violence.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that growing surveillance and registration be counteracted and that everyone has the right to a broad private sphere, and that there are effective and independent systems to monitor the occupational groups that get to exercise violence. The counter-proposal's demands for a clearly regulated, limited intelligence operation with independent oversight including secret operations follow directly from this. The plan thereby also argues against the committee's assessment that data protection is already sufficient.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att växande övervakning och registrering motverkas och att alla har rätt till en bred privat sfär, samt att det finns effektiva och oberoende system för att granska de yrkesgrupper som får utöva våld. Motförslagets krav på en tydligt reglerad, avgränsad underrättelseverksamhet med oberoende granskning även av hemlig verksamhet följer direkt av detta. Planen talar därmed också emot utskottets bedömning att integritetsskyddet redan är tillräckligt.
- independent oversight of force-using authoritiesdecisive»oberoende system för att granska de yrkesgrupper, till exempel polisen« (party programme ↗)“independent systems to monitor the occupational groups, for example the police”
- counteract growing surveillance»som skyddas på praktisk och principiell grund. Växande övervakning« (party programme ↗)“which are protected on practical and principled grounds. Growing surveillance”
- ordinary legal framework»avvisar en särskild terroristlagstiftning och menar att våldsbrott ska« (party programme ↗)“rejects special terrorism legislation and argues that crimes of violence should”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan wants to develop intelligence capabilities, but at the same time states that it is society's absolute duty to protect freedom and personal integrity and that respect for human rights is a prerequisite for democracy.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to develop intelligence capabilities, but at the same time states that it is society's absolute duty to protect freedom and personal integrity and that respect for human rights is a prerequisite for democracy. The counter-proposal's requirement for a clearly regulated and limited intelligence operation with independent oversight even of secret activities follows from these commitments. The plan says nothing about oversight mechanisms, which is why the assessment is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill utveckla underrättelseförmågan, men slår samtidigt fast att det är samhällets absoluta skyldighet att skydda friheten och den personliga integriteten och att respekten för de mänskliga rättigheterna är en förutsättning för demokrati. Motförslagets krav på en tydligt reglerad och avgränsad underrättelseverksamhet med oberoende granskning även av hemlig verksamhet följer av dessa åtaganden. Planen säger inget om granskningsformer, varför bedömningen är härledd.
- protection of personal integritydecisive»Det är samhällets absoluta skyldighet att skydda friheten och den personliga integriteten« (party programme ↗)“It is society's absolute duty to protect freedom and personal integrity”
- human rights as foundation»Respekten för de mänskliga rättigheterna är en förutsättning för demokrati.« (party programme ↗)“Respect for human rights is a prerequisite for democracy.”
- strengthened intelligence capability»Vi vill fortsätta internationella samarbeten och utveckla cyberförsvaret och underrättelseförmågan.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to continue international partnerships and develop cyber defence and intelligence capabilities.”
- objective authority exercise»beakta allas likhet inför lagen och iaktta saklighet och opartiskhet.« (party programme ↗)“respect everyone's equality before the law and observe objectivity and impartiality.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The party programme opposes all laws that involve disproportionate intrusions on privacy and states that no improper registration or surveillance shall occur and that increased surveillance possibilities require that policy protects privacy.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme opposes all laws that involve disproportionate intrusions on privacy and states that no improper registration or surveillance shall occur and that increased surveillance possibilities require that policy protects privacy. The plan also demands good public insight into law-enforcement activities. A requirement for clearly regulated, limited intelligence operations with independent oversight even of secret activities is therefore the plan's line.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet motsätter sig alla lagar som innebär oproportionerliga ingrepp i integriteten och slår fast att ingen otillbörlig registrering eller övervakning får förekomma och att de ökade övervakningsmöjligheterna kräver att politiken värnar integriteten. Planen kräver dessutom god medborgerlig insyn i rättsvårdande verksamhet. Ett krav på tydligt reglerad, avgränsad underrättelseverksamhet med oberoende granskning även av hemlig verksamhet är därför planens linje.
- against disproportionate intrusionsdecisive»alla lagar som innebär oproportionerliga ingrepp i« (party programme ↗)“all laws that involve disproportionate intrusions on”
- no improper surveillance»otillbörlig registrering eller övervakning baserad på« (party programme ↗)“improper registration or surveillance based on”
- insight into law-enforcement activities»Det ska finnas god medborgerlig insyn i all« (party programme ↗)“There shall be good public insight into all”
- surveillance requires privacy protection»De ökade möjligheterna till övervakning« (party programme ↗)“Increased possibilities to surveillance”
The election manifesto explicitly rejects preventive surveillance and the party programme states that strong privacy protection is an essential part of a democratic society and that state power must be controlled.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly rejects preventive surveillance and the party programme states that strong privacy protection is an essential part of a democratic society and that state power must be controlled. The programme requires proportionality between restriction and purpose. A clearly regulated and limited intelligence activity with independent oversight including secret operations therefore follows from the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet säger uttryckligen nej till preventiv avlyssning och partiprogrammet slår fast att ett starkt integritetsskydd är en omistlig del av ett demokratiskt samhälle och att statens maktutövning måste kontrolleras. Programmet kräver proportionalitet mellan inskränkning och syfte. En tydligt reglerad och avgränsad underrättelseverksamhet med oberoende granskning även av hemlig verksamhet följer därför av planen.
- no to preventive surveillancedecisive»Vi säger därför nej till visitationszoner, kollektiv bestraffning, omvänd bevisbörda, anonyma vittnen, preventiv avlyssning och inskränkningar av religionsfriheten.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We therefore say no to stop-and-search zones, collective punishment, reverse burden of proof, anonymous witnesses, preventive surveillance and restrictions on religious freedom.”
- strong privacy protection»Ett starkt integritetsskydd är därför en omistlig del av ett öppet och demokratiskt samhälle.« (party programme ↗)“Strong privacy protection is therefore an essential part of an open and democratic society.”
- control of state power»Staten är den enda enheten i samhället som får utöva tvång och våld.« (party programme ↗)“The state is the only entity in society that may exercise force and violence.”
- proportionality in restrictions»Det måste finnas en proportionalitet mellan lagstiftningens inskränkning av medborgarnas integritet och lagarnas syfte.« (party programme ↗)“There must be proportionality between legislation's restrictions on citizens' privacy and the laws' purpose.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan requires that protection for the individual's integrity is strengthened, that surveillance and registration are not used for purposes other than the original ones and that oversight of the authorities' exercise of power against individuals is developed through strong oversight bodies.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that protection for the individual's integrity is strengthened, that surveillance and registration are not used for purposes other than the original ones and that oversight of the authorities' exercise of power against individuals is developed through strong oversight bodies. The counter-proposal's demands for clearly regulated and limited intelligence activities with independent review even of classified activities follow directly from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att skyddet för den enskildes integritet stärks, att övervakning och registrering inte används för andra syften än de ursprungliga och att tillsynen över myndigheternas maktutövning mot enskilda utvecklas genom starka tillsynsorgan. Motförslagets krav på en tydligt reglerad och avgränsad underrättelseverksamhet med oberoende granskning även av hemlig verksamhet följer direkt av dessa åtaganden.
- surveillance only for original purposesdecisive»Övervakning och registrering ska inte användas för andra syften än vad som var de ursprungliga« (party programme ↗)“Surveillance and registration shall not be used for purposes other than the original ones”
- strong oversight of the exercise of power»Tillsynen över myndigheternas maktutövning mot enskilda behöver utvecklas genom starka« (party programme ↗)“Oversight of the authorities' exercise of power against individuals needs to be developed through strong”
- strengthened integrity protection»Skyddet för den enskildes integritet ska stärkas.« (party programme ↗)“Protection for the individual's integrity shall be strengthened.”
- independent review»Domstolarna ska vara oberoende och opartiska.« (party programme ↗)“The courts shall be independent and impartial.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan requires that crime-fighting cooperation is well developed while powers are clearly delimited and protection of personal integrity is safeguarded, and that a functioning democracy rests on clear separation of powers and control of the exercise of power.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that crime-fighting cooperation is well developed while powers are clearly delimited and protection of personal integrity is safeguarded, and that a functioning democracy rests on clear separation of powers and control of the exercise of power. The counter-proposal's requirement for a clearly regulated, delimited intelligence service with independent oversight even of secret operations follows directly from this.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att brottsbekämpande samarbete är väl utvecklat samtidigt som befogenheterna är tydligt avgränsade och skyddet för den personliga integriteten värnas, och att en fungerande demokrati vilar på klar maktdelning och kontroll av maktutövningen. Motförslagets krav på en tydligt reglerad, avgränsad underrättelseverksamhet med oberoende granskning även av hemlig verksamhet följer direkt av detta.
- clearly delimited powersdecisive»dess befogenheter ska vara tydligt avgränsade« (party programme ↗)“its powers must be clearly delimited”
- strong protection of integrity»Den personliga integriteten ska ha ett starkt« (party programme ↗)“Personal integrity must have strong”
- separation of powers and control»Därför kräver en fungerande demokrati en klar maktdelning« (party programme ↗)“Therefore a functioning democracy requires clear separation of powers”
- intelligence capability against threats»möta angrepp från internationell kriminalitet, terrorism, cyberkrigföring« (party programme ↗)“face attacks from international crime, terrorism, cyber warfare”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan wants both to strengthen the defence intelligence capability and to protect personal integrity and protect citizens' freedoms and rights, and requires that responsibility follows all public authority exercise.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants both to strengthen the defence intelligence capability and to protect personal integrity and protect citizens' freedoms and rights, and requires that responsibility follows all public authority exercise. The counter-proposal's demand for clearly regulated and delimited intelligence activity with independent oversight even of secret activity aligns with these commitments. However, the plan says nothing about the oversight arrangement as such.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill både stärka försvarsunderrättelseförmågan och värna den personliga integriteten samt skyddet för medborgarnas fri- och rättigheter, och kräver att ansvar följer med all offentlig maktutövning. Motförslagets krav på en tydligt reglerad och avgränsad underrättelseverksamhet med oberoende granskning även av hemlig verksamhet ligger i linje med dessa åtaganden. Planen säger dock inget om granskningsordningen som sådan.
- protected personal integritydecisive»Den personliga integriteten ska värnas, såväl från intrång« (party programme ↗)“Personal integrity shall be protected, both from intrusion”
- independent oversight of power»Stärka domstolarnas oberoende och skyddet för medborgarnas fri- och rättigheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen courts' independence and the protection of citizens' freedoms and rights”
- strengthened intelligence capability»Stärka försvarsunderrättelseförmågan« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen defence intelligence capability”
- responsibility for authority exercise»Skärpa tjänstemannaansvaret så att du som skattebetalare vet att med all offentlig maktutövning följer ett ansvar för de beslut som fattas« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Tighten official responsibility so that you as a taxpayer know that with all public authority exercise follows responsibility for the decisions made”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan wants to strengthen the rule-of-law principles through increased separation of powers, strengthened court independence, civil service responsibility and a reinforced basic law protection for citizens' rights, which carries the demand for a clearly regulated intelligence operation with independent review.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to strengthen the rule-of-law principles through increased separation of powers, strengthened court independence, civil service responsibility and a reinforced basic law protection for citizens' rights, which carries the demand for a clearly regulated intelligence operation with independent review. At the same time, the plan requires expanded intelligence work, surveillance and surveillance against criminal environments, so the support applies to the review and not to any restriction of the ability.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill stärka de rättsstatliga principerna genom ökad maktdelning, stärkt domstolsoberoende, tjänstemannaansvar och ett förstärkt grundlagsskydd för medborgarnas rättigheter, vilket bär kravet på en tydligt reglerad underrättelseverksamhet med oberoende granskning. Samtidigt kräver planen utökat underrättelsearbete, spaning och avlyssning mot kriminella miljöer, så stödet gäller granskningen och inte någon inskränkning av förmågan.
- separation of powers and rule of lawdecisive»Sverigedemokraterna vill stärka de rättsstatliga principerna i den svenska förvaltningsmodellen genom ökade inslag av maktdelning och ett stärkt oberoende av domstolsväsendet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats want to strengthen the rule-of-law principles in the Swedish administrative model through increased separation of powers and a strengthened independence of the courts.”
- strengthened rights protection»Förstärka grundlagens rättighetsskydd vad gäller yttrandefrihet, äganderätt och frihet från religion« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the Basic Law's protection of rights regarding freedom of expression, property rights and freedom from religion”
- restored civil service responsibility»Införa tjänstemannaansvar« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce civil service responsibility”
- expanded intelligence work»Åtgärder ska vidtas för att bättre kunna kartlägga gängaktiva genom t.ex. underrättelsearbete och informationsinhämtning, spaning, kameraövervakning och avlyssning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Measures shall be taken to better map gang-active through, for example, intelligence work and information gathering, surveillance, camera surveillance and surveillance.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:FöU5)
- Committee report full text (HB01FöU5)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:2450 — En förstärkning av det civila försvaret och krisberedskapen av Emma Berginger m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:2564 — Försvar och samhällets krisberedskap av Peter Hultqvist m.fl. (S)
- Regeringens skrivelse 2023/24:70 — Integritetsskydd vid signalspaning i försvarsunderrättelseverksamhet
Source: The Swedish Parliament