Regulatory Bodies

Statutory Bodies

The Swedish Data Inspection Board (Datainspektionen) is the public body in charge of protecting individuals’ privacy in the information society. This task is fulfilled above all by ensuring that the legislation in the field (notably the Personal Data Act, the Debt Recovery Act and the Credit Information Act) is respected by the principal media actors. Another objective of the Data Inspection Board is that of bringing privacy related issues to the attention of the media.
The Board also receives complaints and can carry out inspections.

The Swedish Radio and Tv Authority (Myndigheten för radio och tv) is a governmental administrative authority working under the Ministry of Culture. It is mainly tasked with the promotion of freedom of expression and opportunities for diversity in radio and television. The Authority grants permission for the broadcasting of terrestrial television, commercial radio and community radio. It oversees radio and television broadcasts and also receives complaints from the public about its content. 

The Swedish Broadcasting Commission (Granskningsnämnden för radio och TV, GRN) is an independent broadcasting commission supervising broadcast content. Its members are appointed by the government and they supervise complaints from the public.


Self-Regulatory Bodies

The Swedish Press Council (Pressens Opinionsnämnd) is a self-regulatory body funded by the media industry and responsible for print and online journalism. The Press Council together with the press Ombudsman deals with complaints about the content of newspapers, magazines and their websites and, since 2011, also some purely online publications. Complaints can be filed by individuals but also by companies, government authorities and organizations. For the complaint to be accepted it is required that the complainant is individually concerned by the publication reported, which means he or she must be named or otherwise designed.
The Press Council is composed by 18 members: a chairman, three vice-presidents, eight members from the media industry, and six independent members. The eight members from the media industry are appointed by a member management board representing the four funding organizations of the Council: the Swedish Newspaper Publishers’ Association, the Magazine Publishers’ Association, the Swedish Union of Journalists and the National Press Club. The Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman and Chairman of the Swedish Bar Association appoint the six independent members.
The Press Ombudsman (Allmänhetens Pressombudsman) receives complaints and can dismiss them but not decide on them. The Press Ombdusman also represents the Council and entertains external relations. He also must inform the public on press ethics.