New agency (Psykologiskt Försvar, or Psychological Defense Authority) in Sweden to monitor dissenting opinions.
A state inquiry proposes the establishment of a new authority with the task of "supporting, strengthening and coordinating society's overall resilience in the context of psychological defense". According to investigator Anders Danielsson, the psychological defense aims to safeguard, among other things, the free formation of opinion and to ensure that the people are given a different image than the one that the "opponent" wants to convey.
Issues with the new authority have been raised on a number of occasions. A review of internal e-mails between MSB (Myndigheten för samhällsskydd och beredskap, or Swedish Agency for Social Protection and Preparedness) officials from January 2019 shows that the authority, among other things, uses known disinformationers to prepare what can almost be called an anti-democratic coup with restrictions on freedom of expression and opinion, and the introduction of state control over advocacy.
It was in early 2018 that the government, through Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, announced the establishment of an authority of this kind. Former SÄPO (Säkerhetspolisen, or Swedish Security Service) chief Anders Danielsson was appointed as investigator, and before that he was also director general of the Migration Board. In the past, the Swedish Agency for Social Protection and Preparedness (MSB), under the leadership of the heavily criticized Dan Eliasson, was also working on similar issues.
Improper information influence
The new authority will manage and coordinate Sweden's psychological data and will work closely with the defense intelligence authorities and be entitled to signal interception.
Its task will be to "support, strengthen and coordinate society's overall resilience within the psychological defense" which is to be done by "identifying, analyzing and confronting undue information influence and other misleading information directed at Sweden or Swedish interests".
It should also "support media companies in identifying, analyzing and responding to undue information impact".
- The purpose of the psychological defense should be to safeguard the open and democratic society, the free education and the freedom and independence of Sweden, investigator Anders Danielsson states .
- These values are subject to undue influence from foreign power in order to create a division. It can lead to lower confidence in democracy and lower voter turnout, he says.
Impact Operations
According to Danielsson, Sweden is today subjected to attacks of various kinds, such as cyberattacks and influence operations directed at Swedish authorities, elected representatives, organizations, companies, editorials, journalists, researchers, officials and debaters.
For example, disinformation, rumor dissemination and other dissemination of misleading information are said to be prevalent issues and therefore constitute a threat to Sweden's democracy, decision-making and self-determination.
Furthermore, it is also proposed to establish within the authority a national center for psychological defense responsible for work against undue influence on information.
Convey the correct message
- It can border on crime and then it is a matter for the security police and the police. But on many other occasions, it is not criminal and it then must be handled with the democratic means we have. It can be about diplomatic contacts or counter-narratives. Ultimately, it is about getting a different message than the one the opponent wants to convey, says Anders Danielsson.
The inquiry is part of the so-called January agreement, the government's cooperation with the Center Party and the Liberals. The Government aims to establish the new authority in 2022.
Original article: https://samnytt.se/ny-myndighet-for-psykologiskt-forsvar-ska-varna-den-fria-asiktsbildningen/
