Response to interpellation 2024/25:483 on illegal IP-TV

Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! Lars Mejern Larsson has asked me what measures I intend to take to address the extensive downloading of films, TV series, and sporting events.

I want to begin by underlining that I completely share the view that illegal downloading and illegal streaming of film, TV and sport is a serious problem also in our country. This applies not least to illegal IP-TV. It affects both cultural creators, media companies and the sports movement, but also society at large through, among other things, lost tax revenues. The revenues from film, TV and sport should go to those who have created the content, not to criminals.

Providing services such as illegal IP-TV has been illegal for a long time. Last year, two people were sentenced to two years and six months in prison and to pay 114 million kronor in damages for exactly this.

But the government is well aware that these are problems that have grown in recent years. The ongoing Film Investigation was therefore, as recently as January 23 this year, tasked to investigate how illegal IP-TV can be countered. The assignment includes, among other things, analyzing the need for and the conditions for a ban for private individuals to receive such services. The assignment is not limited to film but can also cover other content, such as TV and sports. It is of course important to highlight all aspects of the problem in order to be able to take effective measures.

Let me also point out that the government also, shortly before Christmas, appointed an inquiry which shall, among other things, propose legislative changes to enable the securing of, for example, domain names. This would give the justice system better tools to stop ongoing crime on the internet, for example illegal streaming, and prevent criminals from continuing their activities.

These measures, together with the government's extensive efforts against organized crime, are intended to tackle the problems with illegal streaming and IP-TV. The government will carefully monitor how these problems develop and looks forward to the proposals that ongoing investigations will submit.

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Lars Mejern Larsson (S)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for the answer!

Imagine this: You turn on the TV, zap between the channels, watch a romantic movie or follow an important hockey match. But in the background, something is happening that few think about, a crime that is growing at a rapid pace – illegal IP-TV. For a small amount of money, one gets access to hundreds of channels and movies, without permission and without those who create the content getting a single krona back. It is simple, it is cheap, but it is also completely illegal.

While it grows exponentially, the politics lags behind.

In June last year, I asked three different questions about copyright and pirate streaming. What did I get back? Yes, the same answer from the same minister, the Minister for Justice – not the Minister for Culture and not the Minister for Finance, even though this is an issue that hits the cultural sector, the economy, and our entire society.

Now the Minister for Justice shares my view – which I am glad about – that this is a serious problem that affects many. But what happens now? Where is the unified strategy from the government?

One thing I know, namely that illegal IP-TV is a growing threat that requires sharp measures. It is time for the government to take the issue seriously.

How many are there who pay for illegal IP-TV? It is 700,000 households! That corresponds to every sixth household in Sweden. It is a record level and an increase of 25 percent in just a few months. It has become an established shadow industry for organized crime that undermines our legal alternatives.

Illegal streaming threatens both our culture and our sports. When films, series, and matches are distributed illegally, it is not only the large actors who are affected, but also our film workers, musicians, actors, and sports associations.

Madam Speaker! Many probably do not think that sports are also affected by illegal streaming. But they are, and it is noticeable. I was recently at home in Karlstad and visited Färjestad BK together with SHL's CEO Jenny Silfverstrand. Färjestad – Sweden's best hockey team if you ask me – is more than just a team. It is an association with strong traditions, local pride, and a heart that beats for youth, passionate individuals, and all of Värmland.

But what happens when more people choose to watch the matches via pirate services? Well, the clubs lose important revenue. The message from SHL was clear: Illegal streaming of live sports threatens the sport's economy through reduced TV revenues, which directly affects the associations' opportunities to invest in children's and youth sports and to be a force for regional development. To protect the sport, stricter legislation against illegal streaming is required, as the revenues from legal broadcasts are crucial for the sport's future.

It is not only the elite that is affected, but it is the breadth of the sport and the foundation of everything we love about Swedish sports.

Madam Speaker! This is not just about theoretical losses – we are talking about real money and about jobs that are lost.

Every year, Swedes spend an estimated 1.25 billion kronor on illegal IP-TV subscriptions. These are funds that could have gone towards creating new films, towards more TV productions, and towards strengthening our sports clubs. Instead, the money goes to organized crime, where pirate actors earn huge sums on others' work without paying tax and without contributing to society.

Madam Speaker! What is the government doing then? Well, it takes the issue seriously and is investigating. At the same time, the market for illegal IP-TV has doubled in three years.

Madam Speaker! It is not enough to investigate. It is time to act! The government's investigation on IP-TV is to be reported in September. Before it is finalized and any potential legislative changes are in place, it will take at least a year.

My question to the Minister of Justice is therefore simple: What will the government do in the meantime?

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Lars Mejern Larsson, for the opportunity to discuss these extraordinarily important issues today! We agree on almost everything, but on one point I really do not agree with the interpellor, namely that Färjestad BK would be Sweden's best hockey team.

It is very easy to agree with what the interpellor said in the introduction – that one would immerse oneself in the situation when watching a romantic film or an important hockey match, for example, Modo's away match against HV71 tonight, which is extraordinarily important and also features Sweden's best hockey team, Modo Hockey.

I want to emphasize that the government is not just saying that we take this with extraordinary seriousness, but we really do. But if the measures that we are now taking had been taken two, four, or six years ago, we would naturally have been in a better position. It is also not an accurate description to say that nothing has happened since we last met, on the contrary.

The two processes that have been added are, on the one hand, the investigation that was commissioned shortly before Christmas, which, among other things, aims at the possibility for the police to secure domain names in order to be able to stop ongoing crime such as illegal streaming, and, on the other hand, the assignment that has been given to the Film Investigation to investigate a truly offensive step, namely to prohibit private individuals from receiving such services and also to look at other measures in other respects. It is not limited only to film but also covers other content, such as TV and sports.

This is a way to obtain the decision-making basis that, unfortunately, has not been lying around waiting for the government. Now we will ensure that it is produced so that we can take the measures that I, Lars Mejern Larsson, the sports movement, Kultursverige and others are in complete agreement must be taken.

I have high expectations of what the processes that have now been initiated will deliver in the form of just sharp measures and legislative proposals, and I am convinced that we will be able to get this in place with broad majorities here in the chamber.

I look forward to continued exchange with Lars Mejern Larsson on these issues and, in time, also to a joint decision-making to address an activity that, among other things, leads to major consequences both for Färjestad and for Modo Hockey.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Lars Mejern Larsson (S)

Madam Speaker! I thank the Minister for Justice for the answer. But I must say that the concern remains. In that case, I am not thinking about the hockey. You are welcome to Karlstad when we celebrate.

It is good that investigations are appointed, but some things do not require an investigation but rather political measures, political signals, and resources for the authorities that are already working against this type of crime.

Let us look at the justice system's challenges when it comes to stopping illegal IP-TV. Unfortunately, we see an inefficient prosecution today. The best example is the case with IPTV-king. It was perhaps Sweden's largest illegal IP-TV service, which took in many millions of kronor in subscription revenues for illegal broadcasts.

The police report was made as early as 2018, but still, the judgment only came now, seven years later. And what was the result? Well, of two defendants, only one was convicted. The other was acquitted due to prescription. He evaded justice abroad for so long that a large part of the criminality managed to become prescribed.

I want us to stop for a second, Madam Speaker, and realize how absurd the situation actually is. Think what a fiasco it is for the administration of justice that a suspected perpetrator escapes punishment simply because the time runs out!

This case exposes serious deficiencies. Rättighetsalliansen, which reported IPTV-king, expresses great disappointment over the outcome. Their lawyer Sara Lindbäck points out that the time from the police report in 2018 to the indictment was unreasonably long, so long that several years of crime fell outside the indictment. She further states that intellectual property prosecutors have long been understaffed. In other words: We have too few specialized prosecutors and investigators when it comes to piracy crimes, and the few we have have not received sufficient support. The consequence is protracted investigations, relay batons being passed between different prosecutors, and in the worst case, perpetrators going free.

It is unacceptable that the prosecution is so slow and toothless. Furthermore, it sends a dangerous signal to other pirate providers: Keep going, because the risk of getting caught is minimal, and should you get caught, the punishment will be delayed for years!

This undermines confidence in the entire justice system.

Madam Speaker! During the time it has taken to produce a judgment in the IPTV-king case, the problem has exploded. What I mentioned earlier – that 700,000 households are now buying pirate TV – is clear evidence of that.

Illegal IP-TV has increased dramatically while authorities have dawdled with this single investigation. One can ask: How many new illegal IP-TV services have started and flourished during these years without anyone having managed to stop them?

The government has given additional directives to investigate a ban for private individuals to use illegal IP-TV. It is good, but the clock is ticking. Investigations take time, and in the meantime, the pirates continue with their business.

The Minister for Justice must assure us that practical measures are underway now, not in seven years. For every year of passivity, the pirates establish themselves more and more. One accustoms hundreds of thousands of Swedes to the fact that pirate TV is okay. Therefore, it must be clear that it is illegal to use illegal IP-TV services. In Norway, for example, they are investigating a payment ban. Could that be something for us?

Madam Speaker! I want to know what the Minister for Justice intends to do about these legal deficiencies. Is this really enough, when we see such a concrete example of a systemic failure as the IPTV-king case?

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you to Lars Mejern Larsson for a very vivid and relevant description of the problem in substance, but also other challenges and problems that exist when it comes to, not least, the efficiency of the prosecution!

It is also, one could say, a somber conclusion regarding where we come from in these issues. It is a reality that I and this government have had to take over and which we are now trying to do something about, and we are doing it in different ways.

We can start with the legislation. I will come to the effective prosecution, as it is a very important issue that Lars Mejern Larsson raises. But I say this again: If the legislation is not effective, we must ensure that it becomes so. Now we have initiated processes that will enable this. It is about such things, as I said, that go against illegal streaming when it comes to accessing domain names and other things. It is not just about accessing the supply side but also about accessing the demand side. It is therefore about looking at the possibility of prohibiting private individuals from purchasing such services.

Regarding the references to Norway and the tools that exist there, it is part of the assignment that the Film Commission now has. One must turn over every stone in this area. One should therefore not limit it only to a ban, even if that in itself would be very effective, but also look at other tools.

I have good hope that we now have processes underway to be able to also take care of international and Nordic experiences when it comes to obtaining a more efficient toolbox to access this.

Then it is about the questions that Lars Mejern Larsson raises regarding problems in the prosecution when it comes to efficiency. Everyone understands that a process that lasts for six or seven years or something similar is not favorable in any respect. It is often said: Justice delayed is justice denied. Time is an incredibly important factor when it comes to resolving the problem, but also when it comes to obtaining judgments that are just and that do the job.

The limitation periods, I was about to say, we are removing. We are changing them to a very large extent so that this type of serious crime shall not be prescribed in that way. One should not be able to evade the execution of a sentence, for example, and let the clock tick.

It is about the issues of disclosure. People are withholding disclosures. There are current examples in completely other areas being debated in the media just these days. That problem exists to a very high degree, not least when it concerns organized crime. One should not be able to withhold disclosure when it comes to crime. We also have processes underway to access it.

Then there is the question of resources, for it is clear that in the end it must be prosecutors of flesh and blood and police officers of flesh and blood who work on the issues. Now we are making record-breaking investments in the justice system, on both the police side and the prosecutor side. This also applies to other parts of the justice system – including the courts.

In this case, we are talking about organized crime. It is clear that these are resources that we are now investing to exert better pressure in all relevant parts regarding organized crime. It is also, of course, a way to ensure that other crime, which is not organized, can be prosecuted in an effective manner.

I am happy to take on the responsibility of following up on where we stand on the prosecutor's side and regarding the police in terms of prosecution to ensure that the pressure is now being turned up when new tools, expanded resources and, of course, a growing insight into the depth and seriousness of the problem are obtained.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Lars Mejern Larsson (S)

Madam Speaker! I have tried to highlight the gigantic problem with organized crime, which the Minister for Justice agrees with. Whose fault it is does not matter, I think. The important thing is that we reach a solution.

The resources for the intellectual property rights units for the police and prosecutors have decreased drastically. Today, there are only one to two investigators and one prosecutor handling all intellectual property rights crimes, including IP-TV investigations.

Without resources, neither investigations nor legislative changes play any role. The government must send a clear signal. These crimes shall be investigated, and intellectual property rights units must be prioritized. Furthermore, there is a complete lack of crime prevention work in the area.

Illegal IP-TV is like an alarm clock ringing. But the government presses snooze time and again. The signal is clear. Sweden's cultural workers, the film industry, the TV companies, sports, and everyone who creates content are being cheated out of their revenues. But instead of waking up and acting, the government postpones the problem, in my opinion.

I therefore want to conclude with a powerful appeal to the Minister for Justice and the government: Move from words to action! Show that you mean business! Allocate the resources required so that pirate TV crimes can be prosecuted faster! Ensure that investigations into new laws are expedited and translated into concrete proposals!

And most importantly: Send a clear signal to both pirate actors and consumers that illegal IP-TV is no longer tolerated in Sweden!

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! Speaking of alarm clocks, I could say that when I started my job in October 2022, I inherited an alarm clock that was locked on snooze. We have now managed to get it going, and we have addressed the problems with exactly the seriousness that the questions deserve and that Lars Mejern Larsson highlights in such a productive way.

We know that the costs for cultural creators, the sports movement, and producers of content in television are enormous. We also know that it is crime that we, on paper, view very seriously, and it is very important that that insight is translated into a practical action that corresponds to the seriousness of the crime.

Exactly how the police want to organize themselves regarding units, I may not have strong views on. On the other hand, I will have very strong views and send very powerful signals that this crime, which is also a significant part of organized crime, naturally must be attacked with the same force as we attack shootings, explosions, and the recruitment of children and young people. We know that economic crime and other crimes of this kind have surpassed drugs as a primary source of income for organized crime. If we do not get at the criminal economy, we will also not seriously get at organized crime.

I thank you for the opportunity to discuss these issues today. I share the view that what is essential now is that we get down to business and tackle the problem. It is what I am convinced that we will also be able to do with joint efforts.

The interpellations debate was hereby concluded.

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