Net neutrality
The pirate party fights for a free internet, accessible to everyone. Only then can the internet be a force for freedom and democracy, giving everyone the opportunity to make their voice heard, and formulate, share and develop thoughts and ideas. But the free internet is under threat. We take the fight for net neutrality, for data protection and against data storage, geoblocking and DRM.
Overview – The Pirate Party wants to:
- Net neutrality is protected
- The Data Storage Act is being torn up
- Geoblocking is prohibited within the EU
- Bypassing DRM protection is legalized
Introduction – A technological development that puts people’s relationships at the center
The Pirate Party is a political party born out of the net culture and driven by a strong positive image of what the internet can do for a future joint global development.
We live in a time that is unique in human history. The Internet has decisively changed the way we live. Never before have so many people had the opportunity to communicate so easily with each other. Never before have so many people had access to so much established recorded knowledge. In addition, the network has opened up new conditions and opportunities for participation and democracy.
The Internet is the result of a technological development that put free global exchange of knowledge at the center, and which has developed into an arena where human relationships can be built and developed. An opportunity has been created for emotional bonds between people across geographical as well as social distances and borders.
The Pirate Party works for this development to become a springboard for a series of positive changes in Sweden, Europe and the rest of the world.
Piratpartiet’s has a social outlook that is characterized by openness, universalism and inclusion. We see it as society’s task to ensure that everyone can take advantage of the opportunities that the internet provides. At the same time, we are aware of the risks that abuse of the network’s possibilities can entail in the form of e.g. intrusion into personal integrity, and we see the need for legislation in cases where the values we fight for are threatened by e.g. surveillance technology or abuse of monopoly-like market dominance. This view is the basis for all our opinions in the online policy area.
1. Net neutrality
The need for protection of the Internet as an open place is at least as great when it comes to protecting it from the will of corporations to create unfair market advantages as it is when it comes to protecting it from government surveillance. The principle of net neutrality is a foundation of the free web, and something that must not be compromised. Net neutrality means that internet providers may not discriminate between internet traffic for commercial reasons.
Therefore, we want to:
§1 Net neutrality is protected at EU level;
§2 The Swedish supervision of compliance with net neutrality is taken seriously;
§3 It is made clear that zero rating is a violation of net neutrality.
2. Data storage
The Pirate Party does not believe that it is defensible to force telecommunications and internet companies to store information about their customers in order to be able to hand it over to the police and security services. It is a procedure that the European Court of Justice has rejected as it conflicts with human rights. In a free and open society, it is not the state’s job to casually keep tabs on who is talking to whom and when.
Therefore, we want to:
§4 The Swedish Data Storage Act is repealed;
§5 EU initiative on new data storage directives is stopped.
3. Geographical blocking, geoblocking
The web spans all borders, and if we want to keep it free and open, we need to oppose all attempts to set up artificial geographical boundaries on the web regarding how information can be spread. This means that all forms of geoblocking should be opposed.
Therefore, we want to:
§6 Geoblocking is prohibited within the EU.
4. Spectrum
The distribution of radio spectrum is decisive for how access to the internet looks like in society. We want to see a network where all people can participate, and where no player is given a dominant market position. This means clear and transparent rules for how spectrum is allocated and used, with a clear goal of making as much bandwidth as possible available for the internet, and counteracting spectrum being sucked up and locked up by a few actors.
Therefore, we want to:
§7 Spectrum is allocated openly, transparently and to a diversity of actors;
§8 The amount of spectrum allocated for the Internet is maximized.
5. DRM
The Pirate Party wants to actively oppose the introduction, spread and use of technical systems that aim to limit citizens’ and consumers’ opportunities to use and copy digital works. Furthermore, we want to ensure that it is legal to bypass DRM restrictions where they occur.
Therefore, we want to:
§9 Legalize DRM circumvention;
§10 Legalize the manufacture and sale of tools to circumvent DRM.
6. IT and information security
More and more of our society’s functions use the internet, making our society vulnerable to digital attacks. Therefore, the Pirate Party believes that our authorities should be at the forefront of IT and information security so that we minimize the risk of these attacks and data leaks. We also want to see greater transparency in which attacks take place and how they affect society.
No matter how good we are at security, there will be serious incidents from time to time. Therefore, we need to develop the resilience of our digital systems, as well as introduce management and follow-up routines for incidents.
Therefore, we want to:
§11 A state IT accident commission is appointed and given the task of continuously making recommendations on improvements to IT and information security based on current events.
Pirate policy from A to Z
Administrative policy
- Appointments of directors-general are anchored in the Riksdag
- An administrative education is created
- One year of practical experience in the same or similar activity is required to be a manager in an authority
- The financing of the administration returns to the grant model
Administrative policy is about the design of the administrative structures that will transform decided policy into reality.
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Culture
- Copyright is being reformed to favor the creation and dissemination of culture
- The model of lending e-books at libraries is being reformed
- Tax-financed culture must be publicly available
- Municipalities must provide maker spaces in the form of shared workshops for all forms of creation
Our culture is increasingly becoming digital. Our possibilities to create, share and develop art could be endless.
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Defence policy
- Two percent of the defense budget is spent on research
- Sweden is working for an international convention against autonomous combat robots
- Cooperation with voluntary organizations is strengthened
- Sweden is working for an international convention against using cyber weapons against civilian targets
Sweden needs defense against external threats, but that requires not only aircraft and cannons, but also a much better cyber defense than we have today.
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Democracy
- The protection of the constitution is strengthened
- The electoral system is reformed and democratised
- The possibilities for direct democratic procedures are expanded
- The principle of publicity is strengthened
Democracy's existing tools need to be strengthened and supplemented. In order to ensure that the decisions that are made are representative of the people, it requires a policy that aims to strengthen community involvement.
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Drug policy
- All forms of drug use are decriminalized
- People with problematic use receive care instead of being punished
- The market for cannabis is regulated with the aim of limiting availability and benefiting the economy
- The police's limited resources are re-prioritised from minor drug crimes to crimes with victims
Technological development is advancing rapidly. It creates enormous opportunities but forces us to think along different lines than those of the 18th and 20th centuries.
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Economics
- Business policy is made more humane and promotes small and micro-entrepreneurs, innovation companies and research
- The economy is resilient and takes responsibility for future generations, and includes externalities and system services instead of ignoring them
- The individual must have agency over his own finances, his lifestyle and his existence
- Data, information and knowledge are considered integral parts of the economy
The Pirate Party wants to replace unemployment benefits and municipalities' financial assistance with general financial support.
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Education
- The teacher is strengthened in his professional role
- School development is given a stronger research connection
- The school's resource allocation is in relation to responsibility and needs
- Pupils' right to support, health and co-determination is strengthened
Society is developing faster and faster, but at the same time, the form of the school has remained stagnant for the last hundred years.
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Environment
- Decisions concerning environmental issues must be evidence-based
- Innovation of environmentally friendly technologies is promoted
- Energy production must essentially be fossil-free and consist of a mix of energy sources, including today's nuclear power
- Protection for the forest and ecosystems is increased
- Support the possibilities for self-produced electricity via solar cells, solar collectors, geothermal and geothermal heat, smaller wind turbines, and more
The single-track political debate on current environmental issues is a defeat for the entire globe and has the potential to have serious consequences.
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EU policy
- The EU is becoming more transparent in both decision-making and financial contributions
- The EU Parliament gets a stronger role in the legislative process
- The Council of Ministers is abolished and replaced with directly elected senators
- Swedish EU policy within the Council of Ministers is becoming more democratic and transparent
The EU's purpose should be to make it easy to make contacts and spread knowledge and ideas within Europe and with the rest of the world.
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Health care
- Care is given a stronger research connection
- The individual's opportunities to influence their own treatment and health are strengthened.
- Healthcare information systems are secure, robust, easy to use and effective.
- The care's resource allocation is in relation to responsibility and needs.
We want equal care - regardless of whether you live in the city or in the countryside - and a diversity of different care providers. Healthcare must be evidence-based and systems improved to introduce new knowledge and new technology into healthcare.
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Integrity
- The social security number is being reformed
- Minimize the coordination of registers between authorities
- Minimize the personal information collected by authorities
- Government e-identification that is not dependent on individual private actors is used
The pirate party wants to stop mass surveillance. Surveillance must only take place in the event of justified, concrete suspicions against particular persons.
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Labour market
- Appointments of directors-general are anchored in the Riksdag
- An administrative education is created
- One year of practical experience in the same or similar activity is required to be a manager in an authority
- The financing of the administration returns to the grant model
Technological development is advancing rapidly. It creates enormous opportunities but forces us to think along different lines than those of the 18th and 20th centuries.
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Law & order
- Police management is changing to discourage prioritization of "easy-to-solve" crimes
- Administrative duties are transferred from police officers to civilian personnel
- An independent authority is introduced with the task of reviewing complaints against police or prosecutors
- Official liability is introduced
Equality before the law is one of the foundations of democracy. At the same time, it is important that police officers and prosecutors are scrutinized so that abuse is avoided and those who do are punished.
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Migration policy
- Assessment of grounds for asylum is separated from decisions on residence permits
- Asylum seekers with special conditions for integration in Sweden or with a need for protection that is particularly satisfied in Sweden are given priority
- Refugees who commit serious crimes are deported
Sweden does not have the opportunity to help all refugees in the world, therefore we have to prioritize who we should help.
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Net neutrality
- Net neutrality is protected
- The Data Storage Act is being torn up
- Geoblocking is prohibited within the EU
- Bypassing DRM protection is legalized
The pirate party fights for a free internet, accessible to everyone. Only then can the internet be a force for freedom and democracy, giving everyone the opportunity to make their voice heard.
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Sexual autonomy
- All interventions in reproductive, sexual and trans medicine are decided by the individual in consultation with his doctor
- The informed consent model is introduced in trans care
- Legal recognition of poly relationships is enabled
- Sex work is decriminalized
The Pirate Party believes that bodily autonomy, especially regarding gender and sex-related aspects, is one of the most fundamental rights.
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