2025-05-072024/25:KU16 · p.14KUConstitution
Political communication
Requirement for political parties to be transparent about who is behind their communication
What's at stake: The background is that anonymous so-called troll accounts, partly financed by public party funding, have been used systematically to spread propaganda and disinformation. A transparency requirement could make it harder for political actors to conceal who is behind their communication, which affects both how parties operate and voters' ability to judge who is behind a message.
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 the government should commission an inquiry into requiring political parties to be transparent about who is the sender in all their communication, regardless of channel, or whether the committee should reject such a requirement.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motion calling for a requirement that political parties be transparent about who is the sender in all their communication. The full reasoning for this point is missing from the available material.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 13 (C)
The reservation (C) calls for an inquiry to be set up to examine how a requirement for transparent sender identification in all party communication could be designed. The reasoning is that anonymous troll accounts, partly financed by party funding and public money, were revealed in spring 2024 to have been used systematically to spread propaganda and disinformation, which in the reservation's view shows that not only political advertising but other communication too can be misused in this way.
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 13 by C.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 93/0/0/13 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 16/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | No 0/21/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 17/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | Yes | Yes 62/1/0/9 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
Broke with the party line
| SDVictoria Tiblom (SD, Skåne läns södra) | No — party line: Yes |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects motion 2024/25:3159 by Malin Björk et al. (C) motion 8.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2024/25:3159 av Malin Björk m.fl. (C) yrkande 8.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected approximately 90 proposals in motions on constitutional matters. The motions were submitted during the ordinary motion period 2024 and concern, among other things, the form of government and the head of state's mandate, increased transparency in the Royal Household and Palace Estate's finances, and EU cooperation. Some proposals concern measures to revitalize democracy. Other motions raise questions about political communication, party financing, lobbyists and cooling-off rules for ministers and senior civil servants. Further topics addressed in the motion proposals concern constitutional regulation regarding national minorities, Swedish citizenship and public service. The Riksdag refers to previous positions on these matters.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the EU to implement a democracy lock on its budget to sanction member states that violate the rule of law. (C) — Reservation 13
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 builds democracy on a diversity of channels for information and opinion formation and on openness through, among other things, the principle of public access.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan builds democracy on a diversity of channels for information and opinion formation and on openness through, among other things, the principle of public access. Anonymous troll accounts that are partly financed with party support contradict that openness. An investigation into requirements for transparent sender identification in party communication thus follows from the plan's democratic view, even though the plan does not address the question directly.
Original (Swedish)
Planen bygger demokratin på en mångfald av kanaler för information och opinionsbildning och på öppenhet genom bland annat offentlighetsprincipen. Anonyma trollkonton som delvis finansieras med partistöd står i strid med den öppenheten. En utredning om krav på transparent avsändarskap i partiernas kommunikation följer därför av planens demokratisyn, även om planen inte behandlar frågan direkt.
- diversity in opinion formationdecisive»Det behövs en mångfald av kanaler för information, nyheter« (party programme ↗)“There is a need for a diversity of channels for information, news”
- openness and transparency»meddelarfriheten och offentlighetsprincipen« (party programme ↗)“freedom to publish and the principle of public access”
- protect democracy»Grundlagarna ska värna demokratin och människors fri- och« (party programme ↗)“The fundamental laws shall protect democracy and people's freedom and”
- trust-building democratic processes»bygger förtroende mellan människor, förståelse för samhällets komplexitet« (party programme ↗)“builds trust between people, understanding of society's complexity”
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 requires that parties openly report contributions they receive and that the democratic process is based on transparency and insight.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme requires that parties openly report contributions they receive and that the democratic process is based on transparency and insight. The election manifesto also wants to strengthen the ability to resist disinformation and influence campaigns. An investigation into requirements for transparent sender identification in all party communication is in line with these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver att partierna öppet redovisar bidrag de tar emot och att den demokratiska processen bygger på offentlighet och insyn. Valmanifestet vill dessutom stärka förmågan att stå emot desinformation och påverkanskampanjer. En utredning om krav på transparent avsändarskap i all partikommunikation ligger i linje med dessa åtaganden.
- transparency about parties' fundingdecisive»Partierna ska vara skyldiga att öppet redovisa de bidrag de erhåller från utomstående« (party programme ↗)“Parties shall be obliged to openly report contributions they receive from outside”
- transparency and insight»Den demokratiska processen och samhällsförvaltningen måste bygga på offentlighet och« (party programme ↗)“The democratic process and public administration must be based on transparency and”
- against disinformation»Arbetet för att stärka förmågan att stå emot cyberattacker och desinformation ska stärkas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work to strengthen the ability to resist cyber attacks and disinformation shall be strengthened.”
- protection against influence campaigns»Svenska folket är måltavla för påverkanskampanjer och desinformation.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Swedish people are targets for influence campaigns and disinformation.”
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 openness about party financing through a law requiring parties and candidates to disclose their donors, and asserts that citizens must always be able to scrutinise power.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires openness about party financing through a law requiring parties and candidates to disclose their donors, and asserts that citizens must always be able to scrutinise power. A democratic society requires according to the plan factual information and active public scrutiny. Investigating requirements for transparent sender identification in all party communication follows from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver öppenhet kring partiernas finansiering genom en lag om att partier och kandidater ska offentliggöra sina bidragsgivare, och slår fast att medborgarna alltid ska kunna granska makten. Ett demokratiskt samhälle kräver enligt planen saklig information och aktiv samhällsgranskning. Att utreda krav på transparent avsändarskap i all partikommunikation följer av dessa åtaganden.
- openness about party financingdecisive»partier och enskilda kandidater ska offentliggöra« (party programme ↗)“parties and individual candidates shall disclose”
- citizens' scrutiny of power»kunna granska makten. Alla former av korruption« (party programme ↗)“be able to scrutinise power. All forms of corruption”
- factual information in democracy»Ett demokratiskt samhälle kräver saklig information, aktiv samhällsgranskning och grävande« (party programme ↗)“A democratic society requires factual information, active public scrutiny and investigative”
- freedom of speech and independent media»förstärka yttrandefriheten och stödja oberoende medier i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen freedom of speech and support independent media throughout the country.”
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 points out political parties' vulnerability to influence and infiltration and wants to tighten rules around them, which supports an investigation into transparent authorship in parties' communications.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan points out political parties' vulnerability to influence and infiltration and wants to tighten rules around them, which supports an investigation into transparent authorship in parties' communications. The party also promises increased transparency and sees openness as a basic prerequisite for preventing abuse of power. The party's restraint regarding internet regulation argues for an investigation into the design rather than an immediate ban.
Original (Swedish)
Planen pekar ut de politiska partiernas sårbarhet för påverkan och infiltration och vill skärpa reglerna kring dem, vilket bär en utredning om transparent avsändarskap i partiernas kommunikation. Partiet lovar dessutom ökad transparens och ser öppenhet som en grundförutsättning för att förhindra maktmissbruk. Att partiet är återhållsamt med reglering av internet talar för en utredning av utformningen snarare än ett omedelbart förbud.
- tightened rules for partiesdecisive»De politiska partierna är sårbara mot påverkan och infiltration. Reglerna för finansiering av politiska partier bör skärpas och deras motståndskraft mot yttre påverkan och infiltration rustas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Political parties are vulnerable to influence and infiltration. Rules for financing of political parties should be tightened and their resistance to external influence and infiltration strengthened.”
- increased transparency»Sverige ska bli ännu mer transparent. Vi vill inrätta en antikorruptionsmyndighet, skärpa regler mot korruption och införa ett lobbyregister.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall become even more transparent. We want to establish an anti-corruption agency, tighten rules against corruption and introduce a lobby register.”
- openness as a democracy foundation»Öppenhet och transparens är grundförutsättningar för frihet, demokrati och för att förhindra korruption och övergrepp.« (party programme ↗)“Openness and transparency are basic prerequisites for freedom, democracy and for preventing corruption and abuse.”
- restrained internet regulation»Centerpartiet motsätter sig en ökad reglering av internet.« (party programme ↗)“The Centre Party opposes increased regulation of the internet.”
The plan requires that parties' obligation to disclose sources of their financing is regulated by law, that is, legally regulated transparency about parties' own circumstances.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that parties' obligation to disclose sources of their financing is regulated by law, that is, legally regulated transparency about parties' own circumstances. The counter-proposal's demands for an investigation into transparent authorship in party communication follow the same principle, and the plan establishes that transparency is a prerequisite for scrutiny and debate. Anonymous troll accounts financed by party support are the opposite of the scrutiny the plan requires.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att partiernas skyldighet att redovisa källorna för sin finansiering regleras i lag, alltså lagreglerad öppenhet om partiernas egna förhållanden. Motförslagets krav på en utredning om transparent avsändarskap i partikommunikation följer samma princip, och planen slår fast att insyn är en förutsättning för granskning och debatt. Anonyma trollkonton finansierade av partistöd är motsatsen till den granskningsbarhet planen kräver.
- legally regulated party transparencydecisive»Partiernas skyldighet att redovisa källorna för sin finansiering ska vara reglerad i lag.« (party programme ↗)“Parties' obligation to disclose sources of their financing shall be regulated by law.”
- transparency enables scrutiny»Offentlighetsprincipen har en grundläggande betydelse för att förankra och fördjupa folkstyret, och är en förutsättning för granskning och debatt.« (party programme ↗)“The principle of public access has fundamental importance for anchoring and deepening democracy, and is a prerequisite for scrutiny and debate.”
- scrutiny as democracy's lifeblood»Demokratins livsluft är att fler granskar, diskuterar och pekar ut samhällets brister.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Democracy's lifeblood is that more scrutinize, discuss and point out society's shortcomings.”
- sustained work for democracy»Det behövs ett ständigt och uthålligt arbete för att upprätthålla demokratiska värderingar.« (party programme ↗)“There is a need for constant and sustained work to uphold democratic values.”
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 the decision-making process be transparent for citizens so that responsibility can be held, and that parties clearly disclose what ethics and values they proceed from.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that the decision-making process be transparent for citizens so that responsibility can be held, and that parties clearly disclose what ethics and values they proceed from. Honesty and adherence to truth belong to the virtues the plan is built on, which argues for investigating a requirement for transparent authorship in parties' communication. The plan's strong protection of anonymity in freedom of expression contexts however pulls in the other direction, so the certainty is low.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att beslutsprocessen är överblickbar för medborgarna så att ansvar kan utkrävas, och att partierna tydligt redovisar vilken etik och vilka värden de utgår från. Hederlighet och att hålla sig till sanning hör till de dygder planen bygger på, vilket talar för att utreda ett krav på transparent avsändarskap i partiernas kommunikation. Planens starka skydd för anonymitet i yttrandefrihetssammanhang drar dock åt andra hållet, varför säkerheten är låg.
- transparency and accountabilitydecisive»Beslutsprocessen måste vara överblickbar för medborgarna och därmed ge möjlighet att utkräva ansvar.« (party programme ↗)“The decision-making process must be transparent to citizens and thus provide the possibility to hold responsibility.”
- parties shall disclose openly»är viktigt att partierna tydligt redovisar vilken etik och« (party programme ↗)“it is important that parties clearly disclose what ethics and”
- truth and honesty»sanning och hederlighet, tillägna sig kunskap och att« (party programme ↗)“truth and honesty, acquire knowledge and”
- protection for anonymity»Ett starkt skydd för yttrande- och meddelarfriheten« (party programme ↗)“A strong protection for freedom of expression and right of disclosure”
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 does not address requirements for attribution in parties' communication.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address requirements for attribution in parties' communication. The closest commitments are that disinformation campaigns shall be countered, that tax money shall be used for what it is intended for, and that zero tolerance applies to attacks on democratic processes - which speaks for investigating transparency requirements when party support finances anonymous accounts. The plan's free speech principle at the same time sets a limit against regulations that approach censorship.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte krav på avsändarskap i partiernas kommunikation. Närmast liggande åtaganden är att desinformationskampanjer ska motverkas, att skattepengar ska användas till det de är avsedda för och att nolltolerans gäller mot angrepp på de demokratiska processerna - vilket talar för att utreda transparenskrav när partistöd finansierar anonyma konton. Planens yttrandefrihetsprincip sätter samtidigt en gräns mot regleringar som närmar sig censur.
- counter disinformationdecisive»Det är också det viktigaste motmedlet mot företeelser såsom ”fake news” och desinformationskampanjer.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is also the most important counter-measure against phenomena such as "fake news" and disinformation campaigns.”
- tax money for intended purpose»se till att de skattepengar du betalar in används till det de är avsedda för« (2022 manifesto ↗)“see to it that the tax money you pay in is used for what it is intended for”
- protection of democratic processes»inte minst när detta riktas mot förtroendevalda, våra demokratiska processer och vår rättsordning.« (party programme ↗)“not least when this is directed at elected officials, our democratic processes and our rule of law.”
- no to censorship»Alternativet är censur, diskriminering och åsiktskorridorer.« (party programme ↗)“The alternative is censorship, discrimination and opinion corridors.”
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's central commitment in this area is to protect free and value-independent opinion formation and to reduce the state's ability to influence information flows based on political interests.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's central commitment in this area is to protect free and value-independent opinion formation and to reduce the state's ability to influence information flows based on political interests. A regulated requirement for attribution in all party communications is such a state regulation of political discourse. The plan does want to see transparency in the debate, which pulls in the other direction, so the conclusion is uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planens bärande åtagande på detta område är att värna en fri och värdeoberoende åsiktsbildning och att minska statens möjlighet att påverka informationsflöden utifrån politiska intressen. Ett reglerat krav på avsändarskap i all partikommunikation är en sådan statlig reglering av det politiska samtalet. Planen vill visserligen också se transparens i debatten, vilket drar åt andra hållet, varför slutsatsen är osäker.
- free information flowsdecisive»Minska möjligheten för staten eller privata storbolag att påverka informationsflöden utifrån politiska intressen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce the state's or private large companies' ability to influence information flows based on political interests”
- free opinion formation»Stärka möjligheten till fri och värdeoberoende åsiktsbildning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the opportunity for free and value-independent opinion formation”
- freedom of expression defended»Försvara yttrandefriheten mot EU-censur och politiska påverkansoperationer« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Defend freedom of expression against EU censorship and political influence operations”
- transparency in debate»En fri debatt och åsiktsbildning som präglas av transparens och mångfald av perspektiv i såväl traditionella som nya medier, hämmas av strukturer och politik.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Free debate and opinion formation characterised by transparency and diversity of perspectives in both traditional and new media is hampered by structures and politics.”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:KU16)
- Committee report full text (HC01KU16)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:474 — Grundlag av Matheus Enholm m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:105 — Om krav på enbart svenskt medborgarskap för statsråd och riksdagsledamöter av Rashid Farivar (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1193 — Avskaffande av anonyma partibidrag av Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)
- Motion 2024/25:1295 — Skydda även svensk kultur i regeringsformen av Staffan Eklöf (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1345 — Det svenska språkets bevarande av Runar Filper m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1374 — Granskning av Matheus Enholm m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1375 — Grundlag av Matheus Enholm m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1376 — Konservativ politik för samtid och framtid av Matheus Enholm m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1377 — Några valfrågor av Matheus Enholm m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1380 — En behövlig myndighetsöversyn av Matheus Enholm m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1481 — En riksrevision för kommunerna av Malin Danielsson och Cecilia Rönn (båda L)
- Motion 2024/25:150 — Ökad transparens i partifinansieringen av Ola Möller (S)
- Motion 2024/25:1774 — Stärkt kulturpolitik - stärkt demokrati av Mats Berglund m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:1784 — Ett modernt statsskick av Niels Paarup-Petersen m.fl. (C, S, L, MP, V)
- Motion 2024/25:1922 — En funktionsrättspolitik för trygghet och delaktighet av Nadja Awad m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:1934 — Konstitutionella frågor av Jessica Wetterling m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:1935 — Åtgärder för de nationella minoriteterna och minoritetsspråken av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:1984 — Värnande av demokratin av Ann-Sofie Alm (M)
- Motion 2024/25:222 — Införande av sanktioner för överträdelse i lagen om restriktioner vid statsråds och statssekreterares övergång till annan än statlig verksamhet av Josef Fransson (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:223 — Nationellt organiserad kommun- och regionrevision av Josef Fransson (SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament