2024-03-202023/24:KU9 · p.2KUConstitution
Freedom of expression on the internet and regulation of tech giants
Regulation of freedom of expression and major tech platforms online
What's at stake: The issue concerns how much power a small number of global platform companies should have over democratic debate, opinion-forming and the spread of disinformation, and whether clearer national rules are needed beyond what is already being done at EU level.
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 parliament should now instruct the government to tighten national regulation of digital platforms and big tech, or whether voluntary solutions and ongoing EU work are sufficient.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee stresses the importance of safeguarding constitutionally protected freedom of information and expression and primarily favours voluntary solutions; it notes that the EU has already taken action to regulate large online platforms and that negotiations on further proposals are ongoing, and is therefore not prepared to take its own action in response to the motions, which are rejected.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 2 (C)
The reservation argues that much of today's democratic debate takes place on arenas controlled by a small number of platform companies that shape opinion-forming through content moderation, while disinformation, propaganda and online hate spread via the same platforms, and wants a swift inquiry into the impact of global platform companies on democracy and how protection for democracy can be strengthened.
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.
The decision would have held
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: VVänsterpartiet
Ja 209–21Ja 191–39
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 18/0/0/6 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | No | Yes 91/0/0/15 | differs | confidence: high | derived |
| MP | No | Yes 15/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| C | No | No 0/21/0/3 | match | confidence: low | derived |
| L | No | Yes 11/0/0/5 | differs | confidence: low | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 15/0/0/4 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | No | Yes 58/0/0/10 | differs | confidence: low | derived |
| SD | No | Abstain 0/0/62/10 | differs | confidence: high | explicit |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects motions 2023/24:355 by Alexander Christiansson et al. (SD) demand 2, 2023/24:448 by Tobias Andersson et al. (SD) demands 1-11, 2023/24:2490 by Malin Björk et al. (C) demand 5 and 2023/24:2626 by Gunilla Svantorp et al. (S) demand 13.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:355 av Alexander Christiansson m.fl. (SD) yrkande 2, 2023/24:448 av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD) yrkandena 1-11, 2023/24:2490 av Malin Björk m.fl. (C) yrkande 5 och 2023/24:2626 av Gunilla Svantorp m.fl. (S) yrkande 13.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected about forty proposals in motions from the general motion period 2023. The Riksdag primarily refers to ongoing work. The motions concern, among other things, review of the crime of incitement to hatred against a group of people in the basic laws, freedom of expression on the internet and regulation of tech giants, a scrutiny function for foreign direct investments in Swedish media companies, limiting searchability regarding certain personal data, language use in radio and television, and advertising directed at children.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to establish an investigation to analyze digital platforms' impact on democracy and how protection of democracy can be strengthened. (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 states that market power has a strong grip on the internet and that it is strategically important to break companies' increasing influence over opinion formation, and that media monopolies limit free speech.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that market power has a strong grip on the internet and that it is strategically important to break companies' increasing influence over opinion formation, and that media monopolies limit free speech. An investigation into platform companies' impact on democracy follows directly from this, as does the demand for a diversity of channels for opinion formation. The plan also warns that right-wing populist forces increasingly control information.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att marknadsmakten har ett starkt grepp om internet och att det är strategiskt viktigt att bryta företagens ökande inflytande över opinionsbildningen, samt att mediemonopol begränsar det fria ordet. En utredning av plattformsföretagens påverkan på demokratin följer direkt av det, liksom kravet på en mångfald av kanaler för åsiktsbildning. Planen varnar också för att högerpopulistiska krafter styr information allt hårdare.
- break platform companies' powerdecisive»Marknadsmakten har ett starkt grepp om Internet, tv och kultur.« (party programme ↗)“Market power has a strong grip on the internet, television and culture.”
- media monopolies threaten free speech»Världsomfattande mediemonopol begränsar det fria ordet och människors rätt till kunskap.« (party programme ↗)“Global media monopolies limit free speech and people's right to knowledge.”
- diversity of opinion channels»Samhällets demokratisering kräver en mångfald av kanaler för information, nyheter, åsiktsbrytning och opinionsbildning.« (party programme ↗)“Democratic development of society requires a diversity of channels for information, news, debate and opinion formation.”
- protection against disinformation»Vi lever i en tid då högerpopulistiska krafter försöker styra information och innehåll allt hårdare.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We live in a time when right-wing populist forces try to control information and content increasingly forcefully.”
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 party programme makes it a central task for media and IT policy to counteract power concentration and maintain diversity, and warns that democracy is undermined when hate spreads online.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme makes it a central task for media and IT policy to counteract power concentration and maintain diversity, and warns that democracy is undermined when hate spreads online. The election manifesto requires that the capacity to resist disinformation be strengthened. An inquiry into platform companies' impact on democracy is precisely the means the plan's commitments point toward.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet gör det till en central uppgift för medie- och IT-politiken att motverka maktkoncentration och upprätthålla mångfald, och varnar för att demokratin undergrävs när hat sprids över nätet. Valmanifestet kräver att förmågan att stå emot desinformation stärks. En utredning om plattformsföretagens påverkan på demokratin är just det medel planens åtaganden pekar mot.
- counteract power concentration in mediadecisive»Att motverka maktkoncentration och att upprätthålla mångfald ska vara centrala delar av samhällets medie- och IT-politik.« (party programme ↗)“Counteracting power concentration and maintaining diversity shall be central parts of society's media and IT policy.”
- online hate undermines democracy»Demokratin undergrävs när rasistiska och andra ickedemokratiska grupper sprider sitt hat över nätet och försöker skrämma enskilda personer, journalister och politiker till tystnad.« (party programme ↗)“Democracy is undermined when racist and other undemocratic groups spread their hate online and try to intimidate individual persons, journalists and politicians into silence.”
- resist disinformation»Arbetet för att stärka förmågan att stå emot cyberattacker och desinformation ska stärkas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work to strengthen the capacity to resist cyberattacks and disinformation shall be strengthened.”
- democratic counterweights to the market»Det krävs demokratiska motvikter för att skapa de stabila spelregler som behövs för att marknaden ska fungera väl.« (party programme ↗)“Democratic counterweights are needed to create the stable rules of play required for the market to function well.”
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 freedom of expression and support independent media and requires laws that prevent excessive ownership concentration to guarantee diversity of opinion — precisely the question an investigation into platform companies' power over democratic discourse should illuminate.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to strengthen freedom of expression and support independent media and requires laws that prevent excessive ownership concentration to guarantee diversity of opinion — precisely the question an investigation into platform companies' power over democratic discourse should illuminate. The election manifesto highlights free speech and protection against discrimination as essential for democratic development. The plan's defense of free and unmonitored access to the internet simultaneously sets limits for what measures can follow from the investigation.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill förstärka yttrandefriheten och stödja oberoende medier och kräver lagar som motverkar för stora ägarkoncentrationer för att garantera mångfald av åsikter — precis den fråga en utredning om plattformsföretagens makt över det demokratiska samtalet ska belysa. Valmanifestet lyfter det fria ordet och skyddet mot diskriminering som avgörande för demokratisk utveckling. Planens försvar av en fri och oövervakad tillgång till internet sätter samtidigt gränser för vilka åtgärder som kan följa av utredningen.
- diversity of opinionsdecisive»garantera en mångfald av åsikter och yttrandefrihet« (party programme ↗)“guarantee a diversity of opinions and freedom of expression”
- independent media»förstärka yttrandefriheten och stödja oberoende medier i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen freedom of expression and support independent media throughout the country.”
- protect democracy»Det fria ordet, minoriteters rättigheter och skydd mot diskriminering är viktiga för demokratisk utveckling, tillsammans med en stark och oberoende rättsstat.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Free speech, minority rights and protection against discrimination are important for democratic development, together with a strong and independent rule of law.”
- free access to the internet»fri och oövervakad tillgång till internet som ett« (party programme ↗)“free and unmonitored access to the internet as a”
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 comprehensive and independent media oversight as crucial for democracy and notes that political parties are vulnerable to external influence and infiltration.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan sees comprehensive and independent media oversight as crucial for democracy and notes that political parties are vulnerable to external influence and infiltration. An investigation of platform companies' impact on democracy is in line with that protective mandate. At the same time, the plan opposes increased regulation of the internet, which makes the support weak and limited to knowledge gathering.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ser en allsidig och oberoende mediebevakning som avgörande för demokratin och konstaterar att de politiska partierna är sårbara mot yttre påverkan och infiltration. En utredning av plattformsföretagens påverkan på demokratin ligger i linje med det skyddsuppdraget. Samtidigt motsätter sig planen ökad reglering av internet, vilket gör stödet svagt och begränsat till kunskapsinhämtningen.
- independent media oversightdecisive»En allsidig, oberoende och livskraftig mediebevakning i hela landet är avgörande för demokratin.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Comprehensive, independent and vital media oversight throughout the country is crucial for democracy.”
- protection against external influence»De politiska partierna är sårbara mot påverkan och infiltration.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Political parties are vulnerable to influence and infiltration.”
- rule of law also on the internet»Hot och kränkningar är lika oacceptabla på internet som i andra sammanhang.« (party programme ↗)“Threats and harassment are equally unacceptable on the internet as in other contexts.”
- no to internet regulation»Centerpartiet motsätter sig en ökad reglering av internet.« (party programme ↗)“The Center Party opposes increased regulation of the internet.”
The plan demands that Swedish democracy stands strong and that the free conversation is protected through strengthened independence of journalism, culture and civil society.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan demands that Swedish democracy stands strong and that the free conversation is protected through strengthened independence of journalism, culture and civil society. An investigation into how a few platform companies affect the democratic conversation is one way to fulfill that commitment. At the same time the plan states that the free flow of information shall be defended, which sets limits to what such an investigation can lead to.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att den svenska demokratin står stark och att det fria samtalet värnas genom stärkt oberoende hos journalistiken, kulturen och civilsamhället. En utredning av hur ett fåtal plattformsföretag påverkar det demokratiska samtalet är ett sätt att fullfölja det åtagandet. Samtidigt slår planen fast att det fria informationsflödet ska försvaras, vilket sätter gränser för vad en sådan utredning kan leda till.
- protect liberal democracydecisive»Den svenska demokratin ska stå stark och dina rättigheter ska försvaras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Swedish democracy shall stand strong and your rights shall be defended.”
- protect the free conversation»Det fria samtalet ska värnas genom att stärka oberoendet hos journalistiken, kulturen och civilsamhället.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The free conversation shall be protected by strengthening the independence of journalism, culture and civil society.”
- free flow of information»Det fria informationsflödet ska försvaras.« (party programme ↗)“The free flow of information shall be defended.”
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 is based on the imperfection idea: too much power must not be placed in a single group's hands, and effective competition policy shall counter oligopoly and monopoly.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan is based on the imperfection idea: too much power must not be placed in a single group's hands, and effective competition policy shall counter oligopoly and monopoly. Investigating a small number of global platform companies' impact on democratic discourse aligns with this and with the plan's requirement for strong protection for freedom of expression and communication. At the same time, the plan calls for restraint with measures against freedom of expression, which limits what an inquiry should lead to, but the inquiry requirement itself is supported.
Original (Swedish)
Planen bygger på ofullkomlighetstanken: för mycket makt får inte läggas i en enskild grupps händer, och en effektiv konkurrenspolitik ska motverka oligopol och monopol. Att utreda ett fåtal globala plattformsföretags påverkan på det demokratiska samtalet ligger i linje med detta och med planens krav på ett starkt skydd för yttrande- och meddelarfriheten. Samtidigt manar planen till återhållsamhet med ingrepp mot yttrandefriheten, vilket begränsar vad en utredning bör leda till, men själva utredningskravet stöds.
- counter power concentrationdecisive»makt inte får läggas i en enskild människas, grupps eller partis händer« (party programme ↗)“power must not be placed in a single person's, group's or party's hands”
- counter oligopoly and monopoly»effektiv konkurrenspolitik motverkar oligopol, monopol och illojal konkurrens« (party programme ↗)“effective competition policy counters oligopoly, monopoly and disloyal competition”
- strong freedom of expression protection»Ett starkt skydd för yttrande- och meddelarfriheten« (party programme ↗)“Strong protection for freedom of expression and communication”
- restraint against expression measures»det allmänna inte får ingripa mot yttrandefriheten« (party programme ↗)“the public must not intervene against freedom of expression”
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 establishes that a diversity of free and independent media is crucial for the open society and that democracy's protection against extremism and other threats must be strengthened.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that a diversity of free and independent media is crucial for the open society and that democracy's protection against extremism and other threats must be strengthened. Investigating how a handful of global platform companies affect the democratic conversation is in line with this. At the same time, the plan requires an inescapable constitutional protection of freedom of expression, which limits how far the conclusion reaches.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att en mångfald av fria och oberoende medier är avgörande för det öppna samhället och att demokratins skydd mot extremism och andra hot måste stärkas. Att utreda hur ett fåtal globala plattformsföretag påverkar det demokratiska samtalet ligger i linje med det. Samtidigt kräver planen ett oavvisligt grundlagsskydd för yttrandefriheten, vilket begränsar hur långt slutsatsen bär.
- free media sustains democracydecisive»En mångfald av fria och oberoende medier som håller hög kvalitet spelar en helt avgörande roll för det öppna och demokratiska samhället.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A diversity of free and independent media maintaining high quality plays an entirely crucial role for the open and democratic society.”
- strengthened democratic protection»Vi måste också stärka demokratins skydd mot våldsbejakande extremism och andra kriminella hot.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We must also strengthen democracy's protection against violence-affirming extremism and other criminal threats.”
- diversity and competition in media»Moderaternas mediepolitik har som mål att skapa förutsättningar för ett brett utbud av medier i olika format som kan verka fritt, självständigt och i konkurrens med varandra.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Moderate media policy aims to create conditions for a broad range of media in various formats that can operate freely, independently and in competition with each other.”
- constitutionally protected freedom of expression»Våra grundlagar ska ge ett oavvisligt skydd för« (party programme ↗)“Our basic laws must provide an inescapable protection for”
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 explicitly describes global platform companies' control over information flow as a major democratic vulnerability and wants to strengthen users' position against them.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly describes global platform companies' control over information flow as a major democratic vulnerability and wants to strengthen users' position against them. It also requires increased transparency regarding algorithms' spread effects. A swift investigation of platforms' impact on democracy is the direct first step in that commitment.
Original (Swedish)
Planen beskriver uttryckligen de globala plattformsföretagens kontroll över informationsflödet som en stor demokratisk sårbarhet och vill stärka användarnas ställning gentemot dem. Den kräver också ökad transparens kring algoritmernas spridningseffekter. En skyndsam utredning av plattformarnas påverkan på demokratin är det direkta första steget i det åtagandet.
- platforms as democratic vulnerabilitydecisive»Att enskilda aktörer, ofta med bas i utlandet, ges sådant inflytande över vilken information som når fram är ur ett demokratiskt perspektiv en stor sårbarhet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“That individual actors, often based abroad, are given such influence over what information reaches through is, from a democratic perspective, a major vulnerability.”
- strengthened user rights»Öka användarnas ställning i förhållande till sociala plattformar« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase users' position in relation to social platforms”
- transparent algorithms»Transparensen kring hur algoritmer påverkar spridningseffekten utifrån innehåll ska öka och ska inte kunna vara avhängigt subjektiva värderiktningar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Transparency regarding how algorithms affect spread effects based on content should increase and should not be able to depend on subjective value judgments.”
- protect free information flow»Minska möjligheten för staten eller privata storbolag att påverka informationsflöden utifrån politiska intressen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce the possibility for the state or large private companies to influence information flows based on political interests”
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.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:KU9)
- Committee report full text (HB01KU9)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1049 — Pornografins skadeverkningar av Roland Utbult (KD)
- Motion 2023/24:1134 — Översyn av lagen om hets mot folkgrupp av Jan Ericson och Lars Beckman (båda M)
- Motion 2023/24:1764 — Olämpligt språkbruk i radio och tv av Michael Rubbestad (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1840 — Ökat skydd av personuppgifter av Carita Boulwén (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:2299 — Begränsning av personuppgifter på digitala söktjänster av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2023/24:2466 — Utrikes- och biståndspolitik av Kerstin Lundgren m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2490 — Demokrati och konstitution av Malin Björk m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2589 — Moderniserad lagstiftning för att motverka spridning av våldsam pornografi, ett digitalt barnskydd av Helena Vilhelmsson m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2626 — Digitaliseringspolitik för klimat, trygghet och tillväxt av Gunilla Svantorp m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2640 — Utgiftsområde 4 Rättsväsendet av Ardalan Shekarabi m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2664 — Jämställdhetspolitisk motion av Janine Alm Ericson m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:2669 — Rättspolitik av Märta Stenevi m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:2685 — Utgiftsområde 1 Rikets styrelse av Ida Karkiainen m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2686 — Utgiftsområde 17 Kultur, medier, trossamfund och fritid av Lawen Redar m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:269 — Skydd av personuppgifter av Yusuf Aydin (KD)
- Motion 2023/24:280 — Utredning om hur privatpersoners integritet kan värnas av David Perez (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:355 — Mediefrågor av Alexander Christiansson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:413 — Sverigevänlig konsumentpolitik av Mikael Eskilandersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:440 — Demokrati, integritet och transparens av Jessica Wetterling m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2023/24:448 — Yttrandefrihet på internet av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament