Swedish government proposes forcing platforms to remove gang recruitment ads

The Swedish government has announced plans to introduce legislation requiring tech platforms to remove criminal gang recruitment ads, according to a report by public broadcaster SVT Nyheter. The proposal, described as the “most offensive” in the EU by Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer, aims to combat digital recruitment targeting minors.

Under the draft law, platforms would be legally obligated to remove content “reasonably suspected” of being part of crime preparation if the offence involves a minor or carries a minimum two-year prison sentence. Police would have the authority to demand removal, with platforms given one hour to comply or face fines ranging from 5,000 to 5 million Swedish kronor (approximately €450 to €450,000).

Strömmer emphasized the urgency of the measure, stating that recruitment has shifted “from football fields and schoolyards into mobile phones.” The proposal, set for parliamentary review after consultation with the Council on Legislation, is scheduled to take effect on July 15, 2026.

The announcement coincides with a European police operation that resulted in 280 arrests linked to digital gang recruitment, nearly half of which were tied to Swedish criminal networks. Reports indicate some of those detained were children as young as 10–12 years old.