Online safety & content laws in Sweden (2026)

Legal framework

EU Digital Services Act (Regulation 2022/2065, directly applicable) supplemented by Swedish Act Supplementing the Digital Services Act (SFS 2024:954) and Swedish Regulation Supplementing the Digital Services Act (SFS 2024:958), both in force 1 December 2024; supervised by Post- och telestyrelsen (PTS) as Digital Services Coordinator

The Digital Services Act in Sweden

In Sweden, online platforms and intermediaries are governed by the EU Digital Services Act (DSA), a directly-applicable regulation covering illegal content, transparency and user protection.

Framework

the EU Digital Services Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/2065)

Approach

notice-and-action on illegal content, transparency reporting, clear terms, and protection of minors

Applies to

online intermediaries, hosting services and platforms offering services to users in Sweden, wherever established

Very large platforms

platforms and search engines with 45M+ EU users face extra systemic-risk audits, overseen by the European Commission

Maximum fine

up to 6% of global annual turnover

Oversight

the national Digital Services Coordinator, plus the European Commission for very large platforms

The DSA is an EU regulation applied directly in Sweden; the national Digital Services Coordinator handles day-to-day supervision.

Key points: internet & online safety in Sweden

1. 01DSA + National Supplementing Law

   The EU Digital Services Act is directly applicable in Sweden. National law SFS 2024:954 and accompanying regulation SFS 2024:958, in force since 1 December 2024, specify supervisory powers, enforcement measures, judicial review procedures, and sanctions, including fines for intermediary services established in Sweden.

   twobirds.com iclg.com

2. 02PTS as Digital Services Coordinator

   Post- och telestyrelsen (PTS) is designated as Sweden's DSC under Article 49 DSA. It has powers to request data access, order inspections, impose fines on intermediary service providers established in Sweden, and appoint and certify trusted flaggers under Article 22 DSA.

   dscdb.edri.org pts.se

3. 03Children and Youth Protection Online

   IMY (Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection / Integritetsskyddsmyndigheten) has designated children and young people on digital platforms as a priority supervisory focus for 2026, issuing a stakeholder guide on their rights under GDPR and the DSA. Swedish law sets 13 as the minimum age for consent to information-society services such as social media.

   imy.se imy.se

4. 04Online Sexual Services Criminalisation (2025)

   The Swedish Parliament voted in May 2025 to extend the existing sex-purchase prohibition to live commissioned online sexual performances (cam shows); the amendment entered into force on 1 July 2025, with penalties of up to one year in prison for buyers and liability for platforms that promote or profit from such acts.

   loc.gov government.se

5. 05Proposed Data Retention and Encryption Access Law

   Draft legislation Ju2024/02286 ('Datalagring och åtkomst till elektronisk information') would require platforms to store and provide law enforcement access to electronic communications, including end-to-end encrypted messages. As of April 2025 it remained under parliamentary consideration, facing significant opposition from over 400 civil society organisations, cybersecurity experts, and the Global Encryption Coalition.

   statewatch.org globalencryption.org

6. 06EU Age Verification Blueprint (Swedish involvement)

   The European Commission's age-verification blueprint, published in July 2025, was developed by the T-Scy consortium led by Swedish firm Scytales AB. The privacy-preserving, open-source tool enables users to prove they are over 18 for access to restricted adult content under DSA Article 28 obligations, and is designed to be interoperable with European Digital Identity Wallets.

   digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu better-internet-for-kids.europa.eu

The Digital Services Act in Sweden: FAQ

Timeline of decisions

1. 23 Oct 2025Guidance
   Opposition proposes mandatory 15-year age limit on social media

   Sweden's Social Democrat opposition submitted a proposal to ban under-15s from social media and require Bank-ID or EU digital wallet age verification for all accounts. The government simultaneously appointed a special investigator to evaluate the feasibility of an age limit following concerns over gang recruitment and youth mental health.

   The Local Sweden

2. 1 Dec 2024Law · official
   National DSA supplementary law (SFS 2024:954) enters into force

   Sweden enacted complementary legislation to the EU Digital Services Act, designating national supervisory authorities (including PTS as Digital Services Coordinator), establishing enforcement powers, judicial review procedures, and a national sanctions regime. This resolved the EU infringement proceedings opened earlier in 2024.

   Government of Sweden

3. 25 Aug 2023Law · official
   EU Digital Services Act begins applying to Very Large Online Platforms

   Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 (DSA) entered into force for VLOPs and very large search engines, directly binding platforms serving Swedish users with transparency, illegal-content removal, and algorithmic-risk obligations. Full application to all intermediary services followed in February 2024.

   EUR-Lex

4. 1 Apr 2009Law
   IPRED anti-piracy law compels ISPs to disclose infringers' identities

   Sweden became the first EU member state to implement the Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive (IPRED), allowing rights-holders to obtain court orders forcing ISPs to reveal the identities behind IP addresses used for file sharing. Swedish internet traffic fell by roughly one-third on the day of enactment, marking one of the most immediate regulatory impacts on online behaviour in Swedish history.

   Library of Congress Global Legal Monitor

Sources

1. 1.twobirds.com/en/trending-topics/digital-services-act-tracker-and-uk-online-safety-
2. 2.iclg.com/practice-areas/digital-business-laws-and-regulations/sweden
3. 3.dscdb.edri.org/en/DigitalServicesCoordinators/Sweden
4. 4.pts.se/en/
5. 5.imy.se/en/publications/the-rights-of-children-and-young-people-on-digital-pl
6. 6.imy.se/en/
7. 7.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2025-06-10/sweden-parliament-criminalizes-t
8. 8.government.se/articles/2025/07/a-stronger-protection-against-sexual-violations/
9. 9.statewatch.org/news/2025/april/swedish-parliament-urged-to-reject-law-that-would-gre
10. 10.globalencryption.org/2025/04/joint-letter-on-swedish-data-storage-and-access-to-electronic
11. 11.digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/commission-makes-available-age-verification-blueprint
12. 12.better-internet-for-kids.europa.eu/en/news/age-assurance-across-europe-how-countries-are-safeguarding-mi