New law requires platforms to remove gang recruitment channels within an hour

Swedish police can now order online platforms to remove digital channels used to advertise murders, bombings and other gang assignments. The law took effect on 15 July.

A platform may be required to remove the material within one hour. Failure to comply can result in a penalty of up to SEK 5 million. Systematic failures may lead to a sanction calculated as a share of the provider's global turnover.

Police say criminal networks often advertise assignments in channels resembling job listings before moving conversations to encrypted services. TikTok and Snapchat were among the platforms mentioned in reporting, while police described cooperation from Signal as particularly difficult.

Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer said the financial penalties were intended to give the law practical force.

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This is an adopted law now in effect, unlike the broader additional online-intervention powers that police requested earlier in July.

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