Official Documents

• Swedish citizens and aliens hold the right to read and access public documents but there are restrictions on official documents. This is due to the fact that not all public authority documents are officials. Furthermore, a number of these documents are considered secret and therefore the public is not entitled access to them. The Freedom of the Press Act outlines the extent to which official documents may be considered secret. Further provisions are outlined in the Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act. According to the Acts, official documents on issues like national security, interest of preventing a crime, exchange policies of the country and Sweden's relations should be kept confidential.
  
  

Freedom of Expression

• The Instrument of Government which was passed in 1974 gives Swedish citizens and aliens the fundamental freedom to communicate by either writing, signs, images or word. But according to Riksdag statutes, the same freedom may be restricted if the legislation deals with duty of confidentiality,
  
  

Court Hearings

• Instrument of Government gives provisions for public court hearings. But Riksdag statutes make exceptions that court hearings may be conducted in camera under certain circumstances. According to Code of Judicial Procedure and other Acts on judicial hearings, some hearings can be termed confidential and thus permits only the court and the concerned parties to be present. In addition, all presented evidence in camera hearing should remain confidential except the content of the judgment that can be made public.
  
  

Publication of Information

• Swedish citizens and aliens have the right to publish information as provided in a section of the provisions of the Freedom of the Press Act. But the Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression and the Freedom of the Press Act contain exceptions on certain situations. For instance, you are not allowed to either publish or communicate information if you have committed crimes against Swedish national security. The Act further prohibits publication official document that are considered to be confidential in nature.
  
  

Government Secrecy

• Chapter 41 to 43 of the Swedish Secrecy Act outlines secrecy provisions that are applicable to both the government and its officers. The Act further stipulates provisions that guides transfer of secrecy that are aimed at the Swedish government. According to the Act, the Swedish government has the right to either avail or hold information to the public. For example, the Swedish government has the right to secrecy of information like committee's and commission's reports and also matters of national security.