Linda Karlström is a central figure in a controversial legal dispute that has attracted a lot of attention. Karlström sued the Swedish state in autumn 2021 for what she claims was a serious violation of her privacy.
SVT’s special “review”
At the heart of the conflict is a series of programmes broadcast by Swedish Television in December 2020. Under the guise of an “investigative documentary series” about vaccine critics, Karlström argues that the programme was in fact an assault on her privacy.
The series, which ran for a year and a half, Karlström describes as a character assassination. SVT’s methods reportedly included the use of hidden cameras and false identities, which Karlström believes goes far beyond the bounds of acceptable journalism and led to Karlström deciding to take legal action.
Legal victory with a bitter aftertaste
In spring 2023, Karlström won the case against the state. The court found that SVT, which was founded by the state, had exceeded the limits of acceptable journalism. The state was ordered to pay damages to Karlström. But the victory was not without complications. In an unexpected move, the district court decided, without support in the law and contrary to practice, that Karlström should bear her own legal costs. This decision cast a shadow over what would otherwise have been a clear victory for privacy.
The state chose to appeal the judgement. On 30 September 2024 at 09:30, new hearings will begin at the Svea Court of Appeal in Stockholm. The trial will take place on Riddarholmen, right in the heart of the capital.
On this crucial day, Karlström appeals for support. “Come to the trial,” she pleads. “I need all the support I can get.”
A fight bigger than one individual
Karlström’s case has raised questions about the limits of journalistic freedom, the state’s responsibility for public service media, and the individual’s right to privacy in an era of increased media scrutiny. Whatever the outcome of this new trial, the case has already left a deep mark on the debate about press ethics and the rule of law in Sweden. How the court rules in this case is likely to have far-reaching consequences for future journalistic practices and individual rights in Sweden.
