The Assault on Swedish Media: A Threat to Democracy

[Social Media]

 

In a chilling development for Sweden’s democratic fabric, employees at the national news channel TV4 were recently advised to avoid wearing clothing or badges identifying their employer in public. This caution stems from escalating threats against the station and its reporters following an investigative report by TV4’s program, *Kalla Fakta* (Cold Facts). The program exposed the far-right Sweden Democrats, the country’s second-largest political party, for allegedly operating a vast network of anonymous social media accounts designed to attack political opponents and the media.

 

Sweden, renowned for its robust democracy and high trust in media and political institutions, now sees its journalists covering domestic politics fearing for their safety. The increased threats represent a significant challenge to the freedom and security that Swedish journalism has long enjoyed. Nationalist "troll farms" have been reported in Sweden before, but this investigation was unprecedented. A TV4 journalist spent a year undercover in the communications department of the Sweden Democrats. The investigation revealed at least 23 anonymous social media accounts operated from within the department, which garnered 27 million views across various platforms in just three months. This suggests a substantial network dedicated to spreading misinformation and ultra-nationalist hate speech.

 

The revelations about these anonymous accounts were significant, but the response from Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Åkesson was even more alarming. Instead of apologizing, Åkesson launched an aggressive attack on the media, accusing *Kalla Fakta* of being part of a "gigantic, domestic influence operation by the left-liberal establishment" aimed at demoralizing far-right voters ahead of the EU elections. In subsequent interviews, Åkesson ridiculed reporters, using bullying language to undermine their credibility.

 

This marks a dangerous phase for Swedish democracy. By attacking the legitimacy of the news media, the far right is escalating tensions and threatening the future stability of Sweden’s democratic institutions. The conservative coalition government, which relies on the Sweden Democrats for parliamentary support, has responded weakly to the scandal. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson initially condemned the anonymous accounts but soon resorted to whataboutery, attacking the opposition Social Democrats over an old controversy involving an anonymous blog post from a student wing of the party. This tepid response has emboldened nationalists, with Sweden Democrats MP Josef Fransson praising Kristersson for not taking action against his party and using the term "ljugmedia" (lying media), reminiscent of Goebbels’ Nazi slur "Lügenpresse."

 

Without formal sanctions, the far right continues to operate and expand these anonymous accounts. Åkesson's defiant reactions gained substantial traction on social media, while opposition responses struggled to reach a comparable audience. As Renée DiResta of Stanford Internet Observatory notes, in the current social media-dominated news cycle, "if it trends, it’s true." Among the far-right memes shared by the Sweden Democrats' troll farm are racist and antisemitic content from American hate groups, Holocaust-denying cartoons, pro-Russian propaganda, and deep fakes of political opponents. One employee was placed on leave after being exposed by *Expressen* for expressing support for Putin’s invasion of Crimea in 2014.

 

A particularly disturbing video depicted an animated Åkesson driving a tank through Rinkeby, a Stockholm suburb with a large immigrant population, accompanied by a cartoon frog shooting an automatic weapon. Despite some conservative MPs’ condemnation, Åkesson found the video amusing and dismissed critics as lacking a sense of humor. This tactic of using humor to deflect criticism is well-documented. In 1944, Jean-Paul Sartre wrote about Nazi apologists in France who used humor to intimidate and disconcert their adversaries. The intimidation appears to be effective in Sweden, as a study by the Union of Swedish Journalists revealed that 39% of reporters self-censor to avoid threats and harassment, especially on topics related to racism and immigration.

 

Åsa Wikforss, a philosophy professor at Stockholm University and member of the Swedish Academy, warns, “When democracy’s key players, journalists, researchers and politicians, fall silent, democracy is already in trouble.” The current wave of misinformation and hate speech is not just a local issue but a global one, exacerbated by tech companies that allow these toxic environments to flourish. Nobel laureate Maria Ressa highlighted this crisis in her speech at Harvard University, stressing that "without facts, you can’t have truth, and without truth, you can’t have trust. Without these three, we have no rule of law, no democracy."

 

For Sweden and its Nordic neighbors, this is a particularly grave issue. The Nordic model is built on high levels of trust in institutions, media, academia, and interpersonal relations. The recent clustering of Scandinavian countries at the top of the UN’s World Happiness Report is attributed to this trust. Over 60% of Swedes believe that “most people can be trusted.” However, this trust is at risk. The Sweden Democrats' poor performance in the recent European elections, their first significant electoral setback, was quickly blamed on the media, especially TV4. This reaction underscores the ongoing battle for control over public perception and truth. If trust in political news media is undermined, political accountability and, ultimately, the truth itself are at stake.

 

Sweden's response to this crisis will determine the resilience of its democratic institutions. The fight against misinformation and hate speech requires robust measures from both the government and the media to protect the integrity of the Nordic model. 

 

Credit: The Guardian 2024-06-18

 

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[Purdey]

I hadn't realized having an anonymous social media account was somehow illegal.

So much for ASEANnow members.

[Bangkok Barry]

 

The very foundation of society is being eroded, first by photoshopping,  then by social media and, now, AI. Foreign governments work behind the scenes to manipulate elections in democratic countries. And there is, seemingly, nothing that anyone can do to stop it. Pandora's Box has been opened. There is no longer any certainty that what we see, read and hear is real. Can you imagine what the world will be like in a few decades from now?

 

I often wonder what the founder of the internet, Tim Berners-Lee, thinks of how it has developed. On one hand we have the history and knowledge of the world available in our pocket, and on the other it is used as a tool to harass, threaten and corrupt.

[BritManToo]

14 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

And there is, seemingly, nothing that anyone can do to stop it. Pandora's Box has been opened.

Having candidates worthy of office would be a good start.

[Bangkok Barry]

10 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Having candidates worthy of office would be a good start.

 

It goes a great deal deeper than that, far beyond politics.

[Hanaguma]

This seems like a sour grapes article designed to frighten people in the wake of the European Parliament elections. The danger in Sweden is not from a tiny group of far right idiots, it is from the thousands upon thousands of immigrants who refuse to embrace Swedish culture and instead bring their heathen ways to their new home.

[Neeranam]

14 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

bring their heathen ways to their new home

Please elaborate on this.

[Hanaguma]

7 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Please elaborate on this.

From the BBC;

 

Sweden has been a European hotspot for gang-related shootings and bombings for several years. But recently the violence has shifted beyond low-income, vulnerable urban areas and police say one reason is that gang members are increasingly targeting rivals' relatives. Detectives suspect some of the latest violence has been organised by criminal leaders based in other countries, including Turkey and Serbia.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67342368

 

Somehow I don't think that gang violence was a Swedish thing in the past. Not to mention the women being forced to walk around wearing head to toe coverings, the aggression on the streets, the general unease.

[Thingamabob]

This article is rubbish. Problems in Sweden are not about the right wing undermining press freedom, they are about the left wing supporting uncontrolled immigration which is destroying a hitherto peaceful and cohesive society.

[Neeranam]

1 hour ago, Hanaguma said:

From the BBC;

 

Sweden has been a European hotspot for gang-related shootings and bombings for several years. But recently the violence has shifted beyond low-income, vulnerable urban areas and police say one reason is that gang members are increasingly targeting rivals' relatives. Detectives suspect some of the latest violence has been organised by criminal leaders based in other countries, including Turkey and Serbia.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67342368

 

Somehow I don't think that gang violence was a Swedish thing in the past. Not to mention the women being forced to walk around wearing head to toe coverings, the aggression on the streets, the general unease.

Ok, thanks, I thought you mean it was a religious thing, using the term 'heathen'.

[riclag]

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Having candidates worthy of office would be a good start.

How is that? Who decides worthy?

its all to tribal !

 

Western civilization as we know it

is being destroyed by the people who run corporate media, methinks.

 

Here look at the number one trusted source for news  in the USA.

The Weather Channel!

 

https://today.yougov.com/politics/articles/49552-trust-in-media-2024-which-news-outlets-americans-trust

Edited June 18 by riclag

[riclag]

31 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

This article is rubbish. Problems in Sweden are not about the right wing undermining press freedom, they are about the left wing supporting uncontrolled immigration which is destroying a hitherto peaceful and cohesive society.

You have your finger on the pulse of the Globalist elites methinks!

[riclag]

8 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

Sweden's response to this crisis will determine the resilience of its democratic institutions. The fight against misinformation and hate speech requires robust measures from both the government and the media to protect the integrity of the Nordic model. 

The progressive left , who give rise to nationalism forgot about Nordic values of TRADITION .

The rub,Progressives think immigrants dont need to assimilate  to the country they

are immigrating  to.

 

methinks

 

 

[Bangkok Barry]

2 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

This seems like a sour grapes article designed to frighten people in the wake of the European Parliament elections. The danger in Sweden is not from a tiny group of far right idiots, it is from the thousands upon thousands of immigrants who refuse to embrace Swedish culture and instead bring their heathen ways to their new home.

 

Depends. You can't put everyone in the same basket. I grew up in London, and there was an enormous influx of West Indians in the early 50s who introduced their vibrant culture into a very staid UK. Now, the Notting Hill Festival is one of the highlights of the social scene, attended by black and white alike,

 

Then in the early 70s a large number of Indians arrived after they were expelled from Uganda, and they pretty much took over running local corner shops, open all hours. That 'none integration' led to many more businesses adopting their greater work ethic. Another positive from immigration. And curry is now the UK favourite food.

 

Next came East Europeans, who again added their culture, and then the Muslims. Many of those tend to be more insular, but it might only be a matter of time before they offer another layer to UK culture. I do know that when I paid a visit to my local museum, a large group of Muslim girls in full headgear were there as a group to be shown around the place to learn the history of their new home.

 

I'd suggest that those who have no interest in integration are in a minority, just like right-wing idiots.

 

[Hanaguma]

10 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

Depends. You can't put everyone in the same basket. I grew up in London, and there was an enormous influx of West Indians in the early 50s who introduced their vibrant culture into a very staid UK. Now, the Notting Hill Festival is one of the highlights of the social scene, attended by black and white alike,

 

Then in the early 70s a large number of Indians arrived after they were expelled from Uganda, and they pretty much took over running local corner shops, open all hours. That 'none integration' led to many more businesses adopting their greater work ethic. Another positive from immigration. And curry is now the UK favourite food.

 

Next came East Europeans, who again added their culture, and then the Muslims. Many of those tend to be more insular, but it might only be a matter of time before they offer another layer to UK culture. I do know that when I paid a visit to my local museum, a large group of Muslim girls in full headgear were there as a group to be shown around the place to learn the history of their new home.

 

I'd suggest that those who have no interest in integration are in a minority, just like right-wing idiots.

 

Possibly true. But...the West Indians, as well as the "real" Indians all were at least members of the Commonwealth and shared a great many cultural/social traits with the host society.  Later groups are more distant in both language and religion, and assimilation, if it can ever occur, will take a great deal longer.

 

Not to mention that the numbers are vastly different- immigration in the 50s and 70s was not in the same quantity as the 21st century. West Indian immigration was about a half million people over a period of more than 30 years. That means less than 20,000 people a year on average. Hardly comparable to today.

[JonnyF]

2 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

This seems like a sour grapes article designed to frighten people in the wake of the European Parliament elections. The danger in Sweden is not from a tiny group of far right idiots, it is from the thousands upon thousands of immigrants who refuse to embrace Swedish culture and instead bring their heathen ways to their new home.

 

Exactly.

 

We always see these stories about the "far right rising" when the electorate reject the failing policies of the "liberal progressives". Especially if they raise legitimate concerns about the negative consequences of importing thousands upon thousands of immigrants to provide cheap labour for multinationals. They don't have a satisfactory response to their concerns so they resort to name calling in order to demonize the opposition. 

 

It's a scare tactic. A diversion. Quite frankly, it's beyond boring at this point. 

[JonnyF]

22 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Now, the Notting Hill Festival is one of the highlights of the social scene, attended by black and white alike,

 

Ah yes, the cultural enrichment of the Notting Hill carnival has been marvellous.

 

 

[Bangkok Barry]

2 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Ah yes, the cultural enrichment of the Notting Hill carnival has been marvellous.

 

 

 

How many of the over one million people there were involved in crime? The video says around 200 were arrested, which is 200 too many, but not too bad I'd say. Comparable with large football events, for example. And that violence has nothing at all to do with immigration.

[riclag]

10 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Ah yes, the cultural enrichment of the Notting Hill carnival has been marvellous.

 

 

Thanks for the shock& awe optics!

 

 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt.  They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’

 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus 32&version=NIV

[BigBruv]

1 hour ago, Neeranam said:

Ok, thanks, I thought you mean it was a religious thing, using the term 'heathen'.

 

Do most heathens believe in ze big bang or just never thought about anything?

 

If so, maybe that's their 'faith'

 

 

14 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Ah yes, the cultural enrichment of the Notting Hill carnival has been marvellous.

 

 

 

It's 2 days of 1 million people having fun and is the only free music event in the UK.

 

Until you've been you shouldn't knock it.

 

Bit like Thailand and their <deleted> bars

 

Edited June 18 by BigBruv

[JonnyF]

1 hour ago, Bangkok Barry said:

How many of the over one million people there were involved in crime? The video says around 200 were arrested, which is 200 too many, but not too bad I'd say.

 

We've consistently seen the reluctance of the police to clamp down on the law breaking of minorities. They are terrified of being labeled racist. That's how the Asian grooming gangs in Rotheram got away with it for so long, and why people are currently allowed to call for Jihad on the streets of London. The police would have turned a blind eye to many offenses at the carnival for the sake of community relations or simply cowardice.

 

Same as the largely 'ethnic' St Paul's carnival in Bristol which I've attended many times, people walking down the road smoking weed right past the police and they ignore it. Try the same thing at the Ashton Court festival in Bristol (bunch of white kids) and you'll get arrested. Different demographic, different policing sadly.

 

1 hour ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

Comparable with large football events, for example. And that violence has nothing at all to do with immigration.

 

Well if the festival itself is a result of immigration (your words not mine) then it's logical to assume that the violence committed there, largely by first or second generation immigrants is also related to immigration. To deny such a link is nothing more than gaslighting. 

 

 

[mokwit]

This article is just BS leftist propaganda from The Guardian. The Left are the biggest threat to free speech and democracy - you can't have false narratives AND free speech, hence the attack on free speech.

[Roo Island]

15 hours ago, Purdey said:

I hadn't realized having an anonymous social media account was somehow illegal.

So much for ASEANnow members.

If it threatens another or posts fake information harming others, it should be illegal.

 

Social media is one of the biggest problems in our society today. No accountability. Cowards hiding behind anonymity.

[Roo Island]

7 hours ago, mokwit said:

This article is just BS leftist propaganda from The Guardian. The Left are the biggest threat to free speech and democracy - you can't have false narratives AND free speech, hence the attack on free speech.

The left aren't the ones attacking others and posting fake information on social media. Mostly comes from the far right

[jchfriis]

On 6/18/2024 at 4:41 PM, mokwit said:

This article is just BS leftist propaganda from The Guardian. The Left are the biggest threat to free speech and democracy - you can't have false narratives AND free speech, hence the attack on free speech.

I don't think so. The far right party in Sweden are using anonymous accounts and spouting their views and vitriol and fake news through them. Moreover the leader of the party thinks that is the way to do politics and refuse to do anything about it.

The problem started some years ago when the Swedish government allowed too many refugees to enter without having the infrastructure to integrate them into Swedish society. So now Sweden has a huge problem with ghettos, gangs, violence and murders almost every day.

 

You see the same problem in some other European countries.