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Ekot and Vetenskapsradion have obtained information about the activities of a hidden Facebook group. Members have received messages in major international media and the posts describe attempts to get governments of other countries to act against Sweden during the pandemic. Among the more than 200 members are academics, opinion leaders, researchers from Swedish universities and others who are upset about Sweden’s handling of the coronavirus.
Christer Janson is a press officer for the Swedish Public Health Agency.
– What we have been told is unpleasant and it is shocking that this is happening. We have noticed that there have been many errors, half-truths and outbursts in the international media at times and this also comes back quickly when the Swedish media reports on what the foreign media write, he tells Ekot.
Ekot and Vetenskapsradion have long had information about the hidden Facebook group, about the posts and activities for a long time. The members coordinate activities there and take the messages to the comment field, Twitter, Sweden and the main international media.
Information impact experts have analyzed the activity. They emphasize that it is natural and completely permissible to have opinions and criticisms about the management of crown management in Sweden, but are concerned about the methods and what they describe as an aggressive tone from the group members on social media.
The group’s Twitter account describes the Swedish handling of the coronavirus with parallels to Nazism and crimes against humanity. The hateful tone on social media for a long time can cause people without borders to commit crimes, according to several experts Ekot spoke with.
The leader of the Facebook group has rejected a recorded interview, but responds in an email that it is ridiculous and that in most countries it is positive to defend human rights. He writes that the purpose of the Facebook group is to create a safe context for members to participate in opinion-forming.
But Christer Janson, press director for the Swedish Public Health Agency, is also concerned about the tone. He reacts to the fact that several researchers from Swedish universities are active in the group.
– This group is connected to the world of research and actively working with influence in a hidden group, it is really remarkable, he says.
One of the highly qualified researchers who is part of the group and with whom we spoke points out that he is part of many, many Facebook groups. He distances himself from harsh language and certain posts, but says he has no responsibility for what others in the group are saying and that there are interesting posts as well. We have also searched the Facebook group for several other researchers, but they refused to participate.
