Nordic countries demand accountability from tech giants over gang recruitment ads

Sweden and Denmark will call on technology companies to tackle the growing problem of gangs using online ads to recruit young Swedes for violent crimes, the justice ministers of both countries announced on Wednesday.

Sweden’s decades-long fight against gang violence poses a growing threat to neighboring Scandinavian countries. Since April, Swedish gang members have increasingly been recruited by Danish gangs, often through advertisements on platforms such as Telegram. Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer has stressed the importance of holding these platforms accountable for their role in facilitating such activities.

Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard has called for tougher measures and even considered geoblocking some platforms to curb criminal use. While TikTok and Telegram have expressed a willingness to cooperate, Meta and X have remained silent on the issue. Sweden has the highest rate of gun violence in the EU, prompting Nordic countries to step up police cooperation and border controls.

(With input from agencies.)