LGBT Tech Joins Letter to Swedish Lawmakers Urging Protection of Vital Encryption Services

On April 8, 2025, LGBT Tech joined 236 civil society organizations, companies, and cybersecurity experts in signing a joint letter to members of the Swedish Riksdag titled “Joint Letter on Swedish Data Storage and Access to Electronic Information Legislation.” In this letter, we call on Swedish lawmakers to oppose proposed legislation that would compel companies to weaken the encryption of their services—an essential safeguard for the safety and privacy of everyone, including the LGBTQ+ community.

As currently written, Ju2024/02286 Datalagring och åtkomst till elektronisk information would mandate that companies retain user communications and grant law enforcement access, including access to content protected by end-to-end encryption (E2EE). Compliance with this mandate would necessitate introducing technical vulnerabilities, such as encryption backdoors. As the joint letter states, “complying with this requirement for end-to-end encrypted communications services will be impossible without forcing providers to create an encryption backdoor—akin to a master key that unlocks every door in a building.” Although intended to fight crime, this legislation would significantly weaken cybersecurity and threaten privacy for everyone, and especially communities like ours who are already facing heightened risks.

For the LGBTQ+ community, digital spaces have long been vital lifelines—especially in regions where discrimination, persecution, and legal consequences are a daily reality. Privacy and encryption are essential tools that allow individuals to explore their identities, seek support, and communicate safely without fear of exposure. The Swedish Riksdag’s proposed legislation mirrors a troubling global trend, with governments increasingly threatening the fundamental right to encryption. We urge the Swedish Riksdag to reject this bill and recognize the profound harm that weakening encryption protections would inflict not only on LGBTQ+ individuals, but on the safety and privacy of all Swedes.