Sweden reviews name law effects after Rönninge murder

The Swedish Tax Agency has been tasked with mapping how frequently name changes and protected personal data are used by criminals, following government concerns that a 2017 law easing name changes is being exploited. The review, reported by SVT, was prompted by the murder of a young woman in Rönninge last winter, where the suspect had changed identity multiple times and obtained protected personal information.

Another example cited is the former CEO of waste company Think Pink, convicted of environmental crimes, who is reported to have changed his name 17 times. The government fears that the law, which simplified the process of changing names, is being systematically abused by criminals to avoid detection.

The Tax Agency, in cooperation with police, will now produce statistics on how often and on what grounds name changes occur, and examine whether criminals systematically use such changes to stay under the radar. The agency will also analyze whether protected personal data is used to conceal criminal activity.