Swedish Government Criticized for Online Casino Block Plan

But many different groups are condemning the potential online casino ban as the onset of censorship.

The government of Sweden is preparing to institute Internet filtering to block residents from casino gambling. But many different groups are condemning the potential online casino ban as the onset of censorship.

The plan is to require Internet service providers to filter out foreign online gambling sites. A governmental agency would be responsible for determining which sites to bar, and notify the providers.

But, in a pre-implementation period designed to allow public feedback, a variety of lawmakers, businesses, and civil groups have decried the gaming block. CEO Jon Karlung of Bahnhof, the country's largest ISP, questioned whether it is smart to allow government to determine what sites people can view.

He went to on to call the plan undisguised censorship. He says it's the first ever attempt in Sweden to censor the Internet, and should be stopped to avoid a slippery slope.

The Swedish Post and Telecom Agency, a government branch, asserted online gambling is not illegal, and wonders why a legal activity would be banned. In their written response to the plan, agency officials wrote “regulation could bring limitations in the freedom of speech for individuals”.

Justices of the High Courts in two Swedish counties wrote, "What really must be taken into account is that there are no similar regulations in any other area of Swedish law.” They went on to say beginning a filtering program for one purpose will inevitably lead to expanding blockages.

The Minister of Finance said the ban might go a little too far, and the Agency for Administrative Development said the effect would be to silence free speech.