Säpo warns of alternative media: Spreading 'anti-state narratives' and 'xenophobia'

On Tuesday, the Swedish Security Service (Säkerhetspolisen) presented its annual report on the security situation. In addition to the deteriorating security situation in Europe due to the war in Ukraine and what the agency considers a continuous security threat from countries such as Russia, China, and Iran, Säpo also highlights domestic threats. The agency identifies violent Islamists and right-wing extremists as the biggest domestic threats, but makes no mention of left-wing extremism in the report. Säpo has also placed a strong focus on what they call ‘anti-state movements’ that, through legal means, express ‘anti-state narratives,’ ‘conspiracy theories,’ and ‘xenophobia,’ which is claimed to threaten Swedish democracy.

During the presentation of the report Lägesbild 2024-2025, Security Service Chief Charlotte von Essen emphasized that Sweden’s security situation is influenced by an uncertain global environment.

– The development we see means that the world order established after the Second World War is now being challenged on a broad front, von Essen said during the press conference.

In the report, Säpo expresses concern that the ‘rules-based world order’ is threatened by states such as Russia, China, and Iran. The term ‘rules-based world order’ is sometimes also referred to as the ‘liberal international order’ and is a set of global, rule-based but also structured relations based on political liberalism, economic liberalism, and liberal internationalism since the late 1940s.

Today, it is a well-established term primarily among left-liberal and globalist forces in the Western world with the ambition to spread their liberal values to other countries through foreign policy. A geopolitical analyst at Carnegie Europe suggests that the ambition is to gather the broadest possible group to promote a liberal world order and, with power, control or keep away rivals such as China and Russia.

According to Säpo, the rules-based world order is not only threatened by Russia’s invasion and disregard for US and EU countries’ protests and resistance in Ukraine. Säpo Chief Charlotte von Essen also sees a risk in the political developments in the US that could further negatively impact Sweden.

– The Russian war of aggression in Ukraine continues, while changes are taking place in the US that could affect the security situation, von Essen said.

Here are the domestic threats

Aside from geopolitical conflicts in the vicinity, Säpo has also highlighted domestic threats in the report Lägesbild 2024-2025. Two aspects stand out in the report: violent Islamism and so-called right-wing extremism. However, the agency has not bothered to examine left-wing extremism in more detail. The word does not appear at all in the report.

According to the Swedish Security Service, there is another serious threat to Sweden that is prominent in the report. It concerns ‘anti-state environments’ that spread ‘anti-state narratives and conspiracy theories.’

Samnytt has previously reported on how Säpo has warned of a new extremist environment in Sweden, referred to as ‘anti-democratic extremism.’ This environment is alleged to spread ‘anti-state conspiracy theories,’ and in a study commissioned by Säpo from the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), alternative media was mapped out.

In the study, it is claimed that alternative media spread theories that ‘society is controlled by an elite and is in total decline due to mass immigration and incompetent, corrupt politicians.’

In this year’s report, Säpo tones down its previous terminology with words like ‘Swedish anti-establishment extremists,’ as stated in a report from Säpo and the National Centre for Terrorism Threat Assessment (NCT) last year, and now refers to these actors as ‘anti-state movements.’

According to the agency, this type of movement can pose a threat to Swedish democracy by creating divisions in society – even when they use legal methods, according to Säpo.

The Swedish security service also points out that some of these actors within the environment use illegal methods but does not provide details on what these are.

Spreading xenophobia and increasing polarization

Säpo argues that ‘anti-state movements, violent extremists, and foreign powers’ spread disinformation, conspiracy theories, and propaganda, especially through social media. The messages reach a wide audience through various online platforms.

However, there are no examples of what the Swedish security service has reviewed as ‘conspiracy theories and propaganda’ in the report.

– The spread of xenophobic messages, polarization – ‘us against them, they against us’ – as well as increased anti-Semitism and an increase in conspiracy theories, warned Fredrik Hallström, operational chief at Säpo, at the press conference.

The purpose of spreading disinformation, conspiracy theories, and propaganda within ‘anti-state movements,’ according to Säpo, is to increase distrust in Swedish society. Säpo is particularly concerned that ‘anti-state movements’ engage in ‘dehumanizing certain groups in society.’

“The purpose of the activities is to increase distrust in Swedish society, if possible fuel polarization, and in the longer term, increase radicalization linked to their own issue or ideology. The rhetoric used by the actors alludes to perceived and sometimes actual injustices, often with simplified messages and without complementary or problematizing perspectives. Some groups in society are dehumanized.”

Read the full excerpt from the report:

Legal methods are used to create divisions

The Swedish Security Service believes that ‘anti-state movements’ are responsible for ‘increased polarization’ in society. However, there is no mention of how society has changed and what this criticism may look like in the current context in the agency’s report.

Instead, it is ‘this type of actor’ that ‘through both legal and illegal methods’ seeks to create divisions in Sweden, which Säpo claims the agency handles.

The entire report Lägesbild 2024-2025 can be read HERE.

Watch Säpo’s press conference below: