In Sweden, Public Interest Battles to Compete With Deep Culture of Privacy

Gunnar Axen, a database publisher, says selective reporting can lead to a ‘perceived lack of transparency’ that can feed ’mistrust in mainstream media.’

Police at the scene after a shooting incident in Farsta, southern Stockholm, on June 10, 2023. Anders Wiklund/TT News Agency via AP

News Analysis

A strict code of ethics deployed by Sweden’s mainstream media, based on protecting individuals’ privacy, has meant that, over the years, many criminals have not been publicly identified.