Lexbase

Moreover, the freedom of information principle is a source of pride among Swedish decision makers and citizens, since it allows a very high degree of transparency.

It was one of the major rights that Sweden was allowed to retain when it joined the European Union, one which Swedish EU negotiators fervently argued they should keep at the time.

Lexbase was closed down by the Internet service provider Bahnhof on 29 January 2014, just two days after launch, after the site came under heavy criticism from Swedish media, government and the general public.

After the website closure in February 2014, almost 300 complaints were recorded aiming to stop the service, claiming that it violates defamation laws.

[10] The decision of the Chancellor of Justice outraged many people in Sweden, especially those with a criminal record who soon realized that they would have to face a lot of problems in the future to find a job, a house or even a partner, and they now fear that they might be discriminated by many companies and institutions, including banks and medical healthcare.