Message 001
Communication from the Commission - TRIS/(2026) 1016
Directive (EU) 2015/1535
Notification: 2026/0177/SE
Notification of a draft text from a Member State
Notification – Notification – Notifzierung – Нотификация – Oznámení – Notifikation – Γνωστοποίηση – Notificación – Teavitamine – Ilmoitus – Obavijest – Bejelentés – Notifica – Pranešimas – Paziņojums – Notifika – Kennisgeving – Zawiadomienie – Notificação – Notificare – Oznámenie – Obvestilo – Anmälan – Fógra a thabhairt
Does not open the delays - N'ouvre pas de délai - Kein Fristbeginn - Не се предвижда период на прекъсване - Nezahajuje prodlení - Fristerne indledes ikke - Καμμία έναρξη προθεσμίας - No abre el plazo - Viivituste perioodi ei avata - Määräaika ei ala tästä - Ne otvara razdoblje kašnjenja - Nem nyitja meg a késéseket - Non fa decorrere la mora - Atidėjimai nepradedami - Atlikšanas laikposms nesākas - Ma jiftaħx il-perijodi ta’ dewmien - Geen termijnbegin - Nie otwiera opóźnień - Não inicia o prazo - Nu deschide perioadele de stagnare - Nezačína oneskorenia - Ne uvaja zamud - Inleder ingen frist - Ní osclaíonn sé na moilleanna
MSG: 20261016.EN
1. MSG 001 IND 2026 0177 SE EN 02-04-2026 SE NOTIF
2. Sweden
3A. Kommerskollegium
3B. Justitiedepartementet. Regeringskansliet
4. 2026/0177/SE - SERV - INFORMATION SOCIETY SERVICES
5. Draft Law on the Removal of Online Recruitment Content
6. Crime as a service
7.
8. Serious violent crime, particularly shootings and explosions within the criminal world, remains a major problem in Sweden. The attacks are aimed not only at people within the criminal networks but also at their relatives. On numerous occasions, even complete strangers have been affected. This development is extremely serious; it has a negative impact on safety and security throughout society and risks undermining confidence in the justice system.
Recent developments show that more children are linked to criminal networks and that these children are getting younger. Recruitment into criminal networks is also happening more quickly today than in the past, and children and young people often commit more serious offences immediately after joining a criminal network.
A phenomenon known as ‘crime as a service’ or ‘violence as a service’ has emerged in recent times. This phenomenon is characterised by the fact that serious crimes, such as explosions and shootings, are advertised and coordinated by criminals through various digital services. This could involve, for example, transporting weapons, money or drugs, shooting someone, or carrying out an explosion. Organisers and recruiters hide behind pseudonyms and are often based abroad. Those who are recruited and agree to carry out the criminal acts are often children and young people, and they have no connection to the instigator, the intended victim, or the location where the crime is to be committed. The trend towards a services market for crime is extremely serious.
In other words, the recruitment of children and young people, in particular, is now increasingly taking place online and through digital services, which have become essential tools in the activities of criminal networks. The assignments are posted publicly on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. Thereafter, the crimes are planned in closed groups and encrypted chats on services such as Signal and Telegram. These services make it possible to communicate anonymously and to delete messages quickly, making it difficult to detect and investigate the crimes. The criminal networks exploit children and young people in a very ruthless manner. The aim is to ensure that older offenders avoid putting themselves at risk.
Children and young people are also recruited to commit serious crimes against the interests of other states in Sweden, for example against foreign diplomatic missions (Swedish Security Service, ‘Iran Uses Criminals in Sweden’, published on 30 May 2024, https://www.sakerhetspolisen.se/ovriga-sidor/nyheter/nyheter/2024-05-30-iran-anvander-kriminella-i-sverige.html). Swedish children and young people have also been recruited to carry out acts such as murders and explosions against Israeli and Jewish targets in Denmark.
9. Main Content of the Regulations
The Draft Law is intended to enable a competent authority to issue orders requiring online content intended to recruit individuals to commit crimes (recruitment content) to be removed or made inaccessible. ‘Recruitment content’ means content that can reasonably be regarded as forming part of criminal preparations or conspiracy to commit an offence punishable by two years’ imprisonment or more, or involving a minor in criminal activities. A removal order shall be issued to the hosting service provider where the content is hosted. ‘Hosting service provider’ means a provider of hosting services covered by Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council. The order will thus constitute an order to act against illegal content as referred to in Article 9 of that Regulation. The contents shall be removed or made inaccessible as soon as possible and no later than one hour from the receipt of the order. A hosting service provider that breaches its obligations under the Law may be subject to a pecuniary sanction.
Purpose of the Regulations
The proposals aim to counter online recruitment, particularly of children and young people, into criminal activities and to combat the phenomenon of ‘crime as a service’. In order to achieve this objective, it is necessary to adopt this legislation. In view of the serious grounds for the proposal, the possible impact of the proposal on the free movement of services within the EU is considered to be proportionate.
10. References in the basic texts: No basic texts available
11. Yes
12. Due to serious and unforeseeable events relating to public safety, public order and the protection of minors, an exemption from the standstill period is invoked in accordance with Article 6(7) of Directive (EU) 2015/1535.
For a more detailed explanation, see the Annex ‘Notification’ to Decision 260402.
13. No
14. No
15. No
16.
TBT aspects: No
SPS aspects: No
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European Commission
Contact point Directive (EU) 2015/1535
email: grow-dir2015-1535-central@ec.europa.eu
