Swedish and Danish governments summon digital players over social media’s role in organized crime

The Swedish and Danish governments are set to summon major digital players to discuss measures addressing the use of social media in organized crime. Reports have highlighted social media advertisements where criminals seek individuals to carry out violent acts in Denmark.

Swedish criminals operating in Denmark have prompted a renewed focus from police in Copenhagen. According to Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer and his Danish counterpart, one aim is to apply pressure on tech giants to take more responsibility for the content on their platforms.

Måns Jonasson, an internet expert, notes two main methods for tech companies to detect criminal activities: through user reports of concerning posts or via their own security systems. These systems utilize algorithms designed to capture inappropriate content, yet balancing adequate filtering remains challenging. Detecting new slang, such as “jappa,” which refers to murder, complicates the process, as tech companies must decide whether users are joking or serious.

Jonasson suggests that tech companies could enhance scrutiny of content reported on their platforms, indicating the need for hiring significantly more content moderators, which can be a costly endeavor. Meanwhile, independent tech advisor Daniel Westman emphasizes the legislative balance regarding how much content platforms are allowed to remove. Platforms are not directly responsible for user actions and do not have a duty to proactively search for illegal content, yet they must provide reporting functions and respond effectively to reported issues.

In response, TikTok has stated its intent to cooperate with authorities, while Snapchat claims it actively reports, removes, and takes measures against unlawful content. Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram) and the encrypted platform Telegram have been contacted for comments.