Offentlighetsprincipen

Offentlighetsprincipen, or the principle of public access to official documents, is a cornerstone of Sweden’s transparency and democracy. It guarantees that public authorities’ documents are accessible to the general public, enabling scrutiny of government activities. The principle also applies to municipal and county authorities.

The rule is embedded in the Freedom of the Press Act (Tryckfrihetsförordningen) as part of Sweden’s constitution, and is complemented by provisions in the Instrument of Government. It applies to all so‑called allmänna handlingar—documents created or received by a public authority and preserved in its records, including electronic records.

Any person may request access to such documents, and authorities are obliged to provide or disclose them, in whole or in part, unless content is protected by secrecy laws. Requests can be made orally or in writing; authorities typically respond with a decision and may redact sensitive information.

Exceptions and secrecy: Information may be withheld under the secrecy provisions (sekretess) in various statutes, notably for national security, public safety, crime investigation, personal data, and trade secrets. The balance between openness and protection of individuals and interests is central to the practice.

Impact: The principle has shaped Swedish governance by enabling public oversight and proactive transparency. With digital records, the scope includes emails and other electronic documents. The practice continues to evolve as technology and privacy expectations change.