Matti Robinson
21 Jan 2009 7:23
Swedish file sharers have enjoyed quite a bit of protective privacy against the police. In Sweden a file sharer is usually safe from police action as the crimes do not generally carry a prison sentence. This might change now that the police will deliver Minister for Justice Beatrice Ask with a report that recommends authority for police action even in minor file sharing cases previously punishable only by a fine. According to Dagbladet, the Minister for Justice will receive the proposition this Friday.
The legislation is based on the controversial Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive (IPRED) and would allow police to find out email and phone call details as well as request permission for home search.
Swedish Pirate Party Chairman Rick Falkvinge opposed the whole IPRED law in an interview with TorrentFreak saying, "These laws are written by digital illiterates who behave like blindfolded, drunken elephants trumpeting about in an egg packaging facility. They have no idea how much damage they’re causing, because they lack today’s literacy: an understanding of how the Internet is reshaping the power structures at their core."
Minister for Justice Beatrice Ask has already asked the removal of parts of the proposal that could be applied retrospectively to a previous file sharing cases. She didn't want to comment on the proposition before Friday.