Sweden proposes law to let police use AI-generated child abuse material in sting operations

The Swedish government unveiled a controversial proposal on Monday, granting police broader powers to provoke and expose serious crimes, including using AI-generated child sexual abuse material and impersonating minors online.

Under the plan, police would be legally authorised to pose as children selling sex or as drug buyers to infiltrate networks involved in child exploitation or narcotics trafficking, according to Swedish media reports.

The proposal – drafted by government investigator Stefan Johansson – aims to regulate practices already used by police but not explicitly defined in law.

“Digitalisation of crime in many areas requires new methods,” Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer said at a press conference, stressing that law enforcement must have “effective tools to investigate and prosecute more crimes.”

The proposed legislation would permit the use of “special provocative measures” in serious criminal investigations, including those targeting child sexual abuse or large-scale drug offences. It would also, in rare cases, allow police to conduct provocations against suspects under the age of 15 if the suspected crime carries a minimum sentence of four years – such as preparation for murder.

One of the most controversial aspects would allow police to both create and share AI-generated child pornography in order to gain access to closed online forums used by predators.

“The purpose of a provocation is to obtain evidence of a crime – not to create one,” Johansson said.

The proposal – now sent for consultation among legal experts, law enforcement agencies and civil society – is expected to trigger debate over the ethical limits of digital policing, as similar powers are already permitted in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands.

After the consultation round, the government will prepare a bill for parliamentary approval. If adopted, the new law could enter into force on 1 March 2027.

(aw)