WhatsApp threatens to exit Swedish market over proposed “back door law”

03/16/2025 / By Laura Harris

Meta-owned WhatsApp has warned it may withdraw from the Swedish market if a proposed law, allowing police and security services to access encrypted communications, is passed. The law would require tech companies to create a “back door” for authorities to bypass encryption in emergencies, retain user data for up to two years, and provide access to encrypted information.
Critics argue that the law would undermine user privacy and create vulnerabilities exploitable by hackers. Meta has stated it will not compromise on user safety and privacy, even if it means exiting markets like Sweden. Signal, another encrypted messaging app, has also pledged to leave Sweden if the law is enacted, citing similar concerns.
Meta’s messaging platforms, including WhatsApp and Messenger, are widely used in Sweden. Messenger is the most popular app, with 41 percent daily usage, while WhatsApp ranks second. However, it remains unclear if Messenger would also exit the Swedish market if the law passes.
Signal, known for its strong privacy protections, has criticized the law, stating it would create vulnerabilities that could undermine its entire network. The Swedish Armed Forces, which recently adopted Signal for non-classified communication, also opposes the law, warning it could compromise national security by introducing exploitable weaknesses.
The proposed law challenges the end-to-end encryption model used by apps like WhatsApp, Messenger and Signal, raising concerns about misuse and the erosion of digital privacy.

Meta-owned messaging app WhatsApp has warned it may withdraw from the Swedish market if a law that will allow Swedish police and security services to access encrypted communications, including chats and emails would pass.

The proposed legislation, dubbed the “back door law,” would require tech companies to provide authorities with a means to bypass encryption in emergency situations, such as during crises, wars or investigations into major crimes. It would also require app owners to retain certain user data for up to two years and create a “key” to allow authorities to access encrypted information.

However, critics argue that such a back door would not only undermine user privacy but also create a weak point that could be exploited by hackers. So, Meta pledged to leave the Swedish market if a law would pass. (Related: WhatsApp HACKED: Nearly 500 million phone numbers from 84 countries and territories put up for sale.)

“We’re doing everything we can to support the police in their work against crime,” Meta’s head of policy in Sweden, Janne Elvelid said. “But that doesn’t mean that we’re going to compromise on safety and privacy for our users. We’re willing to accept that our services may not be available everywhere or in every country if that is the price for keeping our promise to users that our chat services will be secure.”

The Swedish Internet Foundation’s 2024 Svenskarna och Internet (Swedes and the Internet) report highlights the popularity of Meta’s messaging platforms in Sweden. Messenger is the most widely used app, with 41 percent of Swedes using it daily and 55 percent weekly. WhatsApp ranks second, with 18 percent daily and 28 percent weekly usage.

But then, it remains unclear whether Messenger would also exit the Swedish market if the law passes.

Signal also pledges to leave Sweden if the proposed law is enacted

WhatsApp, which has built its reputation on secure, end-to-end encrypted communication, uses a protocol developed by Signal, a non-profit messaging app known for its strong privacy protections. Currently, apps like WhatsApp, Messenger and Signal use end-to-end encryption, meaning only the sender and receiver can read messages—not even the companies themselves have access.

However, the proposed law would fundamentally alter this model, raising concerns about the potential for misuse and the erosion of digital privacy.

In line with this, Signal has also pledged to leave Sweden if the law is enacted. “If you create a vulnerability based on Swedish wishes, it would create a way to undermine our entire network,” said Signal Foundation President Meredith Whittaker. “Signal’s commitment to user privacy is non-negotiable.”

The Swedish Armed Forces, which recently announced it would switch to Signal for non-classified mobile communication, has also criticized the proposal, citing concerns over security vulnerabilities.

In a letter to the government, military officials warned that mandating backdoors could introduce vulnerabilities exploitable by malicious actors, potentially compromising national security.

Learn more about data breaches and hacking incidents at Glitch.news.

Watch this clip from Times Now discussing how to keep personal WhatsApp accounts safe from potential hackers.

This video is from the channel EuropeChannel on Brighteon.com.