2025-06-172024/25:FöU8 · p.2FöUDefence
End-to-end encrypted communication services
Guaranteed access to end-to-end encrypted communication services in the cybersecurity strategy
What's at stake: The outcome affects whether businesses, authorities and individuals can rely on being able to keep communicating with protection against third-party interception, or whether the possibility of requiring backdoors in encrypted services is left open pending forthcoming EU regulation.
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 national cybersecurity strategy should now state that access to end-to-end encrypted communication services must be guaranteed, or whether the matter should wait for the regulation of such services currently being negotiated within the EU and prepared by the Government Offices.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee notes that regulation of end-to-end encrypted communication services is being negotiated within the EU and prepared by the Government Offices, and sees no reason to preempt that ongoing work. The committee therefore considers that it is not currently appropriate to include wording on guaranteed access to such services in the national cybersecurity strategy, and rejects the motion.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 2 (C)
The reservation (C) wants the cybersecurity strategy to include wording guaranteeing access to end-to-end encrypted communication services. The reasoning is that the Armed Forces themselves rely on such services for information that is not security-classified, and that a ban without access to unencrypted alternatives risks weakening small and medium-sized enterprises' protection of trade secrets and Sweden's overall competitiveness and resilience.
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 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 20/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 93/0/0/13 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 15/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | No 0/21/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: high | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 59/0/0/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | Yes | Yes 62/0/0/10 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects motion 2024/25:3388 by Mikael Larsson and Niels Paarup-Petersen (both Centre Party) demand 2.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2024/25:3388 av Mikael Larsson och Niels Paarup-Petersen (båda C) yrkande 2.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag has addressed a communication on a national cybersecurity strategy 2025–2029. The communication presents the government's approach to Sweden's cybersecurity with a focus on three areas, so-called pillars: Pillar A: Systematic and effective cybersecurity work Pillar B: Developed knowledge and competence development in cybersecurity Pillar C: Capacity to prevent and manage cybersecurity incidents. The strategy contains objectives in several areas and an action plan aimed at addressing the threats and vulnerabilities identified in the strategy. The Riksdag laid the communication to the records, that is, concluded the matter.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to strengthen cooperation between private and public actors for increased information sharing on cybersecurity. (C) — 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 wants to see development of network tools and platforms based on users' freedom, integrity and self-determination, and states that everyone has the right to protection of their personal integrity.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to see development of network tools and platforms based on users' freedom, integrity and self-determination, and states that everyone has the right to protection of their personal integrity. Guaranteed access to end-to-end encrypted communication services is a concrete expression of that. The plan furthermore advocates open standards and free software as the basis for reliable structures, which strengthens the grounds for the counter-proposal.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill se en utveckling av nätets verktyg och plattformar som bygger på användarnas frihet, integritet och självbestämmande, och slår fast att alla har rätt till skydd av sin personliga integritet. Garanterad tillgång till totalsträckskrypterade kommunikationstjänster är ett konkret uttryck för det. Planen förordar dessutom öppna standarder och fri programvara som grund för pålitliga strukturer, vilket stärker skälen för motförslaget.
- integrity and self-determination on the networkdecisive»ger på användarnas frihet, integritet och självbestämmande, medan« (party programme ↗)“based on users' freedom, integrity and self-determination, while”
- protection for personal integrity»har rätt till skydd av sin personliga integritet.« (party programme ↗)“have the right to protection of their personal integrity.”
- open standards and free software»Det handlar bland annat om att använda öppna standarder, fri pro« (party programme ↗)“This involves, among other things, using open standards, free software”
- free technology development»Vänsterpartiet vill se en teknikutveckling som står friare från de be« (party programme ↗)“The Left Party wants to see technology development that stands freer from corporate interests”
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 lists protection of personal integrity as a goal for democracy policy, and the election manifesto wants to strengthen resilience to cyberattacks.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme lists protection of personal integrity as a goal for democracy policy, and the election manifesto wants to strengthen resilience to cyberattacks. Guaranteed access to end-to-end encrypted services strengthens both integrity and small businesses' protection of trade secrets, which the plan values through the requirement for security for small entrepreneurs. The plan's commitment to better wiretapping possibilities for police pulls in another direction, so the assessment is uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet listar skydd för den personliga integriteten som ett mål för demokratipolitiken, och valmanifestet vill stärka förmågan att stå emot cyberattacker. Garanterad tillgång till totalsträckskrypterade tjänster stärker både integriteten och småföretagens skydd av affärshemligheter, vilket planen värnar genom kravet på trygghet för småföretagare. Planens åtagande om bättre avlyssningsmöjligheter för polisen drar åt andra hållet, varför bedömningen är osäker.
- personal integritydecisive»Skydd för den personliga integriteten.« (party programme ↗)“Protection of personal integrity.”
- strengthened cyber resilience»Arbetet för att stärka förmågan att stå emot cyberattacker och desinformation ska stärkas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work to strengthen resilience to cyberattacks and disinformation shall be strengthened.”
- security for small entrepreneurs»Trygghet för småföretagare.« (party programme ↗)“Security for small entrepreneurs.”
- police wiretapping tools»Polisen behöver också fler verktyg, som bättre möjligheter till avlyssning och husrannsakan.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The police also need more tools, such as better possibilities for wiretapping and house searches.”
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 sees free and unmonitored access to the internet as an important means for people's empowerment and wants to protect the right to privacy and private life against both state and commercial actors.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan sees free and unmonitored access to the internet as an important means for people's empowerment and wants to protect the right to privacy and private life against both state and commercial actors. Guaranteed access to end-to-end encrypted services is a direct expression of that stance, and the plan opposes laws that constitute disproportionate intrusions on privacy.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ser en fri och oövervakad tillgång till internet som ett viktigt medel för människors egenmakt och vill värna rätten till integritet och privatliv mot både statliga och kommersiella aktörer. Garanterad tillgång till totalsträckskrypterade tjänster är ett direkt uttryck för den hållningen, och planen motsätter sig lagar som innebär oproportionerliga ingrepp i integriteten.
- free and unmonitored internet accessdecisive»Miljöpartiet ser en fri och oövervakad tillgång till internet som ett viktigt medel för att stärka människors egenmakt i alla länder.« (party programme ↗)“The Greens see a free and unmonitored access to the internet as an important means to strengthen people's empowerment in all countries.”
- right to privacy»Vi vill värna människors rätt till integritet och privatliv.« (party programme ↗)“We want to protect people's right to privacy and private life.”
- against disproportionate surveillance»Vi motsätter oss alla lagar som innebär oproportionerliga ingrepp i integriteten.« (party programme ↗)“We oppose all laws that constitute disproportionate intrusions on privacy.”
- political protection against surveillance»De ökade möjligheterna till övervakning kräver att politiken slår vakt om människors möjlighet att värna sin integritet.« (party programme ↗)“The increased opportunities for surveillance require that policy protects people's ability to protect their privacy.”
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 explicitly opposes increased regulation of the internet and wants to see a digital society with strong protection for freedom of information and personal integrity.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme explicitly opposes increased regulation of the internet and wants to see a digital society with strong protection for freedom of information and personal integrity. Guaranteed access to end-to-end encrypted services is precisely such protection, and the election manifesto moreover makes small businesses' conditions a main issue. The plan does not mention encryption, so the coverage is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet motsätter sig uttryckligen ökad reglering av internet och vill se ett digitalt samhälle med starkt skydd för informationsfriheten och den personliga integriteten. En garanterad tillgång till totalsträckskrypterade tjänster är just ett sådant skydd, och valmanifestet gör dessutom småföretagens villkor till en huvudfråga. Planen nämner inte kryptering, varför täckningen är härledd.
- no to internet regulationdecisive»Centerpartiet motsätter sig en ökad reglering av internet.« (party programme ↗)“Centerpartiet opposes increased regulation of the internet.”
- digital integrity»Vi bejakar ett digitalt samhälle med ett starkt skydd för yttrande- och informationsfrihet samt den personliga integriteten.« (party programme ↗)“We embrace a digital society with strong protection for freedom of speech and information and personal integrity.”
- strong integrity protection»Ett starkt integritetsskydd är därför en omistlig del av ett öppet och demokratiskt samhälle.« (party programme ↗)“Strong integrity protection is therefore an essential part of an open and democratic society.”
- small businesses' conditions»Därför kommer Centerpartiet alltid att vara småföretagens bästa vän i svensk politik.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Therefore, Centerpartiet will always be the best friend of small businesses in Swedish politics.”
The plan requires that protection for the individual's privacy be strengthened and that privacy breaches are only justified when an opposing interest weighs manifestly heavier.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that protection for the individual's privacy be strengthened and that privacy breaches are only justified when an opposing interest weighs manifestly heavier. It also establishes that free information flow shall be defended and wants civil defence to be strengthened at the same pace as military defence, which includes companies' resilience. Guaranteed access to end-to-end encrypted services thus follows from the plan's principles.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att skyddet för den enskildes integritet stärks och att integritetsingrepp bara är berättigade när ett motstående intresse väger uppenbart tyngre. Den slår också fast att det fria informationsflödet ska försvaras och vill att det civila försvaret stärks i samma takt som det militära, vilket omfattar företagens motståndskraft. Garanterad tillgång till totalsträckskrypterade tjänster följer därför av planens principer.
- strengthened privacy protectiondecisive»Skyddet för den enskildes integritet ska stärkas.« (party programme ↗)“Protection for the individual's privacy shall be strengthened.”
- high requirements for privacy breaches»negativt är endast berättigade om ett motstående intresse väger uppenbart tyngre och åtgärden är« (party programme ↗)“negative is only justified if an opposing interest weighs manifestly heavier and the measure is”
- free information flow»Det fria informationsflödet ska försvaras.« (party programme ↗)“Free information flow shall be defended.”
- strengthened civil defence»det civila försvaret stärkas i samma takt som det militära« (2022 manifesto ↗)“civil defence be strengthened at the same pace as military defence”
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 gives personal integrity strong protection and demands that the authorities' powers are clearly delimited, while at the same time reliable electronic communications with high performance are described as a prerequisite for economic development.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan gives personal integrity strong protection and demands that the authorities' powers are clearly delimited, while at the same time reliable electronic communications with high performance are described as a prerequisite for economic development. Guaranteed access to end-to-end encrypted services follows from both these commitments and from the requirement that new laws be assessed from a small business perspective. The plan does not take a position on encryption as such, so the conclusion is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ger den personliga integriteten ett starkt skydd och kräver att myndigheters befogenheter är tydligt avgränsade, samtidigt som tillförlitliga elektroniska kommunikationer med hög prestanda beskrivs som en förutsättning för ekonomisk utveckling. Garanterad tillgång till totalsträckskrypterade tjänster följer av båda dessa åtaganden och av kravet att tillkommande lagar prövas ur ett småföretagarperspektiv. Planen tar inte ställning till kryptering som sådan, så slutsatsen är härledd.
- strong protection of integritydecisive»Den personliga integriteten ska ha ett starkt« (party programme ↗)“Personal integrity shall have strong”
- delimited powers»dess befogenheter ska vara tydligt avgränsade, och skyddet för den« (party programme ↗)“its powers shall be clearly delimited, and the protection of the”
- reliable digital infrastructure»tillförlitliga elektroniska kommunikationer med hög prestanda« (party programme ↗)“reliable electronic communications with high performance”
- small business perspective»Tillkommande lagar bör prövas ur ett småföretagarperspektiv.« (party programme ↗)“Forthcoming laws should be assessed from a small business perspective.”
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 counter-proposal wants the cybersecurity strategy to guarantee access to end-to-end encrypted communication services, citing the protection of business secrets and collective resilience.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants the cybersecurity strategy to guarantee access to end-to-end encrypted communication services, citing the protection of business secrets and collective resilience. The plan commits to giving businesses in security-sensitive operations better support to meet cyberattacks, espionage and theft attempts by foreign powers and to develop cyber defence. The plan also links resilience against hybrid threats to a concrete action plan.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill att cybersäkerhetsstrategin garanterar tillgång till totalsträckskrypterade kommunikationstjänster, med hänvisning till skyddet av företags affärshemligheter och den samlade motståndskraften. Planen åtar sig att ge företag i säkerhetskänslig verksamhet bättre stöd att möta cyberattacker, spionage och stöldförsök från främmande makt och att utveckla cyberförsvaret. Planen kopplar också motståndskraft mot hybridhot till en konkret handlingsplan.
- protect businesses against espionagedecisive»Ge företag som är engagerade i säkerhetskänslig verksamhet bättre stöd från staten att kunna möta cyberattacker, spionage och stöldförsök från främmande makt« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Give businesses engaged in security-sensitive operations better support from the state to meet cyberattacks, espionage and theft attempts by foreign powers”
- developed cyber defence»Utveckla cyberförsvaret« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Develop cyber defence”
- action plan against hybrid threats»Införa en handlingsplan med konkreta åtgärder mot hybridhot och cyberattacker« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce an action plan with concrete measures against hybrid threats and cyberattacks”
- good conditions for businesses»Villkoren för att starta, växa och expandera behöver vara goda« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The conditions for starting, growing and expanding need to be good”
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 heaviest commitment in this area is that the justice system shall get more effective tools and that wiretapping and information gathering shall be expanded to be able to prosecute serious crime.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's heaviest commitment in this area is that the justice system shall get more effective tools and that wiretapping and information gathering shall be expanded to be able to prosecute serious crime. Guaranteed access to end-to-end encrypted services would precisely curtail that capability. The plan at the same time values freedom of expression on the internet, which makes the balance uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planens tyngsta åtagande på området är att rättsväsendet ska få mer effektiva verktyg och att avlyssning och informationsinhämtning ska byggas ut för att kunna lagföra grov brottslighet. En garanterad tillgång till totalsträckskrypterade tjänster skulle beskära just den förmågan. Planen värnar samtidigt yttrandefriheten på nätet, vilket gör avvägningen osäker.
- wiretapping as a tooldecisive»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 individuals through e.g. intelligence work and information gathering, surveillance, camera surveillance and wiretapping.”
- more effective crime fighting»Framförallt behöver rättsväsendet få mer effektiva verktyg för att bekämpa gängbrott.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Above all, the justice system needs more effective tools to combat gang crime.”
- tools against gangs»Ge rättsväsendet resurser och verktyg för att bekämpa gängen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Give the justice system resources and tools to combat gangs”
- freedom of expression on the internet»Stärka yttrandefriheten på Internet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen freedom of expression on the Internet”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:FöU8)
- Committee report full text (HC01FöU8)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:3388 — med anledning av skr. 2024/25:121 Nationell strategi för cybersäkerhet 2025-2029 av Mikael Larsson och Niels Paarup-Petersen (båda C)
- Regeringens skrivelse 2024/25:121 — Nationell strategi för cybersäkerhet 2025-2029
Source: The Swedish Parliament