• Sweden edition

Second ISP undermines file sharing law

Published: 28 Apr 09 07:24 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/19114/20090428/

Swedish telecom operator Tele2 announced on Monday it will erase data identifying their customers, a decision police claim may complicate their efforts to track down those who share copyrighted material illegally over the internet.

"We will erase the IP addresses after they have been used for our internal use, starting today," Niclas Palmstierna, Tele2's managing director for Sweden, told AFP.

An IP address is a unique number that is used to identify each sender or receiver of information that is sent across the Internet.

Sweden recently adopted a new law April 1st, inspired by an EU directive on intellectual property, that allows authorities to request the identity of users suspected of downloading pirated material.

The move by Tele2 follows a similar policy introduced by Bahnhof, a smaller Swedish Internet firm, which said it would not reveal users' IP addresses.

A high-ranking police official told the TT news agency that this could have a serious impact on their bid to crack down on Internet pirates.

"In certain cases, this will make an investigation impossible," said Stefan Kronkvist, the head of Swedish police's internet crime unit.

Tele2 is one of Sweden's main telecom providers and counts 600,000 people among its Internet clients.

Internet piracy has become a hotly-debated subject in Sweden since the four founders of the file sharing site, The Pirate Bay, were sentenced to a year in prison on April 17th.

AFX/The Local (news@thelocal.se)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Fark It! Digg This  Share everywhere
Send to a friend Printable version Twitter This

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

10:10 April 28, 2009 by peropaco
Great move Tele2. I will run and renew my subscription with your company. Doubt Telia will have the balls to do the same.
10:58 April 28, 2009 by byke
I am hoping that realistically ISP's are starting to realize that since they are part of the chain that it could be easy for the government to change its stance and turn on the ISP's (normally most notably if the companies post good profit reports) .

Its good to see that ISP's can clearly see the difference between civil liberties and free speech which should not be diluted by a few copyright breeches.

Hopefully this will send a clear message to both the governments and the entertainment industry that the ball lies in their court in ways they try to enforce protectionism to this industry that it can not be done at the expense of free liberties.
11:33 April 28, 2009 by RARCA
So he says "We will erase the IP addresses after they have been used for our internal use, starting today," but how long do they keep them really? Is it days? Weeks? Months?
11:39 April 28, 2009 by Markbase with an Invisible Q
I would guess that it's strictly for internal identification/billing purposes. Can't see it being for more than a few moments at a time.

But that's just a guess...

Anyone else?
12:00 April 28, 2009 by Thebinary1
From a Political Science perspective, does this mean that ISPs are slowly climbing the ranks in being power-brokers or kingmakers?
12:55 April 28, 2009 by christo
am sorry to say but,,, mr govt, the ball is in ure hands now. dont u see that its tricky now? telle2 rool on.
17:56 April 28, 2009 by EvilTomte
Regarding the TPB trial - it will probably be redone as one of the judges wasn't honest about his personal interest in the case (being a member of certain groups that are against file-sharing and such) Also, even if they're sentenced they will appeal it to a higher instance.

Meaning that it's not yet over by a long shot.

Either way, good to hear that Tele2 are watching over their customers' interests.
14:29 April 29, 2009 by hunter694
This has actually been going on for a lot longer than we seem to think ... :)

http://eclectrocution.blogspot.com/2009/04/music-piracy-circa-1897.html
10:45 May 3, 2009 by POLO!
Anybody knows where Bredbandsbolaget stands on this issue? Do they give away their customers' IPs ?
15:32 May 3, 2009 by EngGent
Bredbandbolaget have said their current policy is to keep IP data for 3 weeks for 'user security' which is massive bullcrap. A few politicians from the left are leaning on them so perhaps they will change their policy soon.
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
'Vodka-mobile' selling booze to Swedish kids

'Vodka-mobile' selling booze to Swedish kids

Police in Stockholm are looking to beef up efforts to put the brakes on a “vodka-mobile” that delivers hard liquor to school children in the Swedish capital who place their orders via text message. READ (5 COMMENTS) »

'THE OFFICE' GOES SWEDISH
Swedish comedian Henrik Dorsin claims he has the head of a Bond villain

‘Sweden is the most PC country in the world’

Two days before the premiere of ‘Kontoret’, the Swedish version of The Office, The Local's Oliver Gee chats with the cast about why Sweden needs its own version of a show that's already proved to be a winning concept worldwide. READ (9 COMMENTS) »

Sweden to cut dropout rate by shortening school

Sweden to cut dropout rate by shortening school

The government is hoping to reduce the number of Swedish high school dropouts by offering a shorter course of study for students who "lack the prerequisites" to finish high school, angering opposition politicians. READ (16 COMMENTS) »

SWEDISH HONEYMOONER SLAYING
Court delays Swedish bride murder trial

Court delays Swedish bride murder trial

A court in South Africa has postponed further the trial of two men accused of killing Swedish honeymooner Anni Dewani in Novermber 2010 as prosecutors await the extradition of her husband from the UK. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

SWEDES JAILED IN ETHIOPIA
Reinfeldt 'hopeful' of Ethiopia pardon

Reinfeldt 'hopeful' of Ethiopia pardon

Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt harbours hope that the two Swedish reporters jailed for terror crimes in Ethiopia will be pardoned by the regime. READ »

MALMÖ GUN VIOLENCE
Four arrested for Malmö gang slaying

Four arrested for Malmö gang slaying

Four men have been arrested for the “execution style” killing of a 19-year-old man in Malmö in August 2011 in what police believe was a settling of scores among criminal gangs. READ (27 COMMENTS) »

Rape accusations stun Swedish high school

Rape accusations stun Swedish high school

An employee at a high school near Uppsala, in eastern Sweden, has been detained by police on suspicion of rape and sexual harassment of several students, much to the shock of his colleagues. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

Agency to probe doc who broke baby’s neck

Agency to probe doc who broke baby’s neck

A doctor in central Sweden who broke the neck of an infant during a 55 hour long delivery, is being investigated by the National Board of Health and Welfare. READ (14 COMMENTS) »

More Science & Technology

Highlights from Follow Sweden

20 things to know before moving to Sweden

As diverse as Sweden is, there are a few societal norms that are distinctly Swedish. Understanding a handful of them will hopefully prepare you culturally before you relocate. When you're invited home to a Swede, you better be on time and take your shoes off, writes expat Lola Akinmade-Åkerström. Read more »

How far can English take you in Sweden?

Sweden is a country where almost everyone can speak English. So why bother to learn Swedish? Edina Varnagy from Hungary managed with English for a whole year but then found that Swedish could open doors – to a job, a social life and greater understanding. Read more »

Find a new job in Sweden now
10/02 Specialist, Customer Service (m/f)
UPM
Stockholm
10/02 YOUNG TALENT PROGRAM - SYSTEMS ENGINEER - HUMAN FACTORS
Tetra Pak
Lund
10/02 Senior Brand Manager and Brand Manager
AB Annas Pepparkakor
Tyresö
10/02 Vill du arbeta som helpdesk tekniker i en internationell miljö?
Poolia AB
Stockholm
10/02 Sr. Curriculum Developer
QlikTech International AB
Lund
10/02 YOUNG TALENT PROGRAM - DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER -- TEST/VALIDATION
Tetra Pak
Lund

ALL JOBS »



Blog Update: 110% LAGOM

10 February 10:47

Reefer Madness »

"Remember how your kids used to dance around the room to The Gummy Bears and Astid Lindgren? And now, since they started gymnasium, they listen to guitar or electronic music, or reggae, or hip hop, or Sean Banan?? That's not proper music! They are clearly junkies!" READ »

Highlights
Alexander Lervik and Johan Carper
LIFESTYLE »
Seven Swedish designs that will blow your mind
Eva Rinadi Celebrity and Live Music Photography/Flickr
SOCIETY »
Star Wars in Swedish causes fan outrage
www.dotoday.se
LIFESTYLE »
What's On: The Local's guide to upcoming attractions and events in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö.
OLIKA Publishing
OPINION »
The Swedish language needs a new pronoun free of preconceived notions about gender, a Swedish linguist and representatives from a publishing house argue
Madonna set for July 4th concert in Sweden
SOCIETY »
Madonna set for July 4th concert in Sweden
TV4
GALLERY »
An inside look at 'The Office' in Swedish
Georgios M.W (File)
SOCIETY »
Swedish mother gave 3-year-old cigs and beer
Photo: Fredrik Persson/Scanpix
SOCIETY »
A duvet cover designed to look like cardboard boxes, on sale at a luxury department store in Stockholm, has some arguing that the city's homeless are being exploited for profit.
Ann Catrin Brockman/Flickr (File)
LIFESTYLE »
Five Swedish songs that never made Eurovision
Q&A with Swenglish comedy star Ben Kersley
LIFESTYLE »
Swenglish comedy star Ben Kersley explains how ‘three bespectacled English guys’ plan to make Swedes laugh
Wikipedia (File)
SOCIETY »
Stealthy snake hid inside hotel trouser press
Photo: Screenshot YouTube
SOCIETY »
Move over Bugs – a Swedish bunny is rapidly becoming the most popular rabbit in the world!
Photo: US embassy in Sweden
OPINION »
US ambassador to Sweden, Mark Brzezinski, speaks to The Local's David Landes about US-Swedish relations and taking Swedish lessons from his two-and-half year old.
sheeron/Flickr (File)
SOCIETY »
Swedish cannibal finds vampire love behind bars
Photo: Sony Pictures
SPONSORED ARTICLE
How Millennium films tap deep into Swedish angst
Photo: Helena Wahlman
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Braving the cold: Ten reasons to spend winter in Sweden
Photo: ECLA
SPONSORED ARTICLE
A truly international education at the heart of Berlin
Highlights from Follow Sweden
Swedish word of the day

fin

adjective

Fin means anyhting from sweet to proper. When someone says, Du är så fin it's quite a compliment.

Blog
Highlights from Follow Sweden
New book about Sweden – get to know the country

Sweden – Up North, Down to Earth is a book about Sweden today. A country of natural beauty and open space, and a society focused on equality, human rights and sustainability. Meet regular and astonishing Swedes, supercars and indie rock bands, vampires and royalties.

Buy your copy of Sweden – Up North, Down to Earth from Sweden Bookshop

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »

Jobs in Sweden, in English

538 jobs available
246 new jobs this week
0 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

Swedish Down Town
Swedish Down Town PR Consulting and Productions is an innovative business company which provides valuable assistance with Public Relations and Communications in the swedish and the international market.
www.swedishdowntown.com
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
English Speaking Therapist Stockholm
British-Australian Male Counsellor. Counselling Therapy for Depression, Mental Health, Sex, Relationship & Expat Issues
08-559 22 636 or CLICK HERE
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Doctor of Psychology
Therapy in English in Stockholm Trained in California Individuals & Couples (08) 93 81 48 FREE phone consultation
Visit anxiousorblue.se
Get on the Tennis Court with www.babolatshop.se
The new Online Tennis Store with the largest selection of Babolat Products in Sweden
http://www.babolatshop.se
Turning Point Counseling
Turning Point Counselling centre offers the international community of Stockholm a safe space for personal development, counselling and coaching.
http://www.turning-point.se/show.asp