Background & Purpose
It is important for society that the population register is accurate to prevent identity theft and to know who is living in the country. Currently, there are gaps in how information is handled, which makes it harder to verify identities.
The Decision
The Parliament voted yes to giving the Swedish Tax Agency more authority and introducing a new crime called 'promoting incorrect population registration'.
Does this affect you?
- Individuals seeking to manipulate their place of residence for fraudulent purposes: These individuals are directly targeted by the new crime of 'promoting incorrect population registration' and the increased scrutiny by the Swedish Tax Agency.
- Law enforcement agencies (Police, Migration Agency, Swedish Tax Agency): These agencies are granted expanded powers and improved data sharing capabilities, particularly concerning biometric data, to combat identity fraud and aid in crime solving.
- General public: The public benefits from a more accurate population register, which enhances national security, prevents identity theft, and ensures correct allocation of resources.
In Practice
- A new law makes it a crime to help someone register incorrect information about where they live.
- The Swedish Tax Agency can now collect and store more biometric data, such as fingerprints and facial images.
- The Swedish Tax Agency and the Migration Agency will share biometric information with each other more easily.
- The Police can now request biometric data from the Swedish Tax Agency to help solve crimes.
- Minor errors in population registration will be treated more leniently under the new rules.