Figures on secret data reading differ

In 2020, a temporary law was introduced that gives law enforcement authorities the opportunity to secretly read data on, for example, mobile phones and computers. It is called secret data reading and is intended as a tool against organized crime.

Each year, it should be reported how often the tool has been used. This is done in two ways: through a report from the Prosecutor’s Office that the government submits to the Riksdag. And by the supervisory authority Security and Privacy Protection Board, SIN, makes a compilation in its annual report.

But the numbers differ. In 2023, 478 permits were granted according to the Prosecutor’s Office. At the same time, its almost twice as many, namely 849.

Mia Edwall Insulander, secretary general of the Swedish Bar Association, discovered this when she worked with an article on secret coercive measures to be published in Legal Journal.

– I think it is remarkable if there are staff at two different authorities and report the wrong figures to the Riksdag, which will exercise parliamentary control. It should also have been noted by the authorities that the figures differ markedly, she says.

Mia Edwall Insulander says The fact that all secret coercive means involves a violation of human rights and rights and man must be vigilant that they are not used disproportionately, both at the social and individual level.

– If the government reports incorrect figures, the Riksdag has completely incorrect grounds for making its parliamentary control. In my world it is very, very serious. Then the Riksdag has not been given the correct basis for being able to understand if the surveillance is much more extensive and cannot draw conclusions about whether it is appropriate and proportionate, she says.

Helena Ljunggren is a prosecutor at the Prosecutor’s Office’s development center. She states for DN that the authority’s figures are manually collected from the various prosecutors.

– That its has other tasks, yes we also think it is strange that there is a discrepancy. This will be a speculation on our part, if it may be that you have a different calculation of what is a condition, she says.

Did you know that it is different?

– Before the summer we got some information about it so we have noticed it. We can only take a stand based on the correctness of the information we provide.

Do the Riksdag risk getting the wrong figures?

– I can only assure you that the numbers we have, we stand for.

Stands for their numbers Also do Ida Olsson, Head of the Unit for coercive and protection identities on his.

– I actually do not know what this difference is due to, however, I know that we count the number of intelligence we have received, she says.

Ida Olsson emphasizes that her own is not commissioned to keep statistics on the permits, but collects information in order to be able to conduct effective supervision of the cases. The notifications make no difference to the outcome of the decisions, ie if the court chairs grant a permit or reject.

However, it should be noted that the government’s report states that all applications for permits were granted in 2023.

– The court informs us of all decisions on secret data reading, she says.

Have you quality assured your data?

– What we know for sure is how many intelligence we have received. We heard from the Prosecutor’s Office when we saw this difference and it is clear that someone may have missed something, but we keep track of how many intelligence we get.