The problem began when the Swedish government decided to outsource data held by the Transport Agency in 2015. The manner in which it was handled resulted in internal procedures and laws being bypassed.
IBM Sweden won the contract for the work after the contract process was speeded up and normal procedures were circumvented. As a result, IBM subsidiaries in Eastern Europe were in charge of the servers handling sensitive information.
According to Expressen [CNN’s Swedish affiliate], sensitive information including the entire registry of Swedish drivers’ licenses and data on protected identities was accessible to people who had not been vetted by the Swedish security service. The Prime Minister was not made aware of the breach until January 2017.”
The data also included sensitive information from police and military databases that could reveal where security and military personnel were deployed. Lofven admitted last Monday that Sweden and its citizens were exposed to risks because of the leak.
This is a disaster,” Swedish PM Lofven said. “This has exposed Sweden and Swedish citizens to risks.”
Political opponents from the center right opposition Alliance have attacked the Lofven government and demanded those responsible be fired.
The opposition is seeking to boot out the ministers of infrastructure, defence and the interior – Anna Johansson, Peter Hultqvist and Anders Ygeman, respectively – for their role in outsourcing IT-services for the Swedish Transport Agency in 2015.”
Faced with the growing scandal, Lofven acted yesterday to dismiss Johansson and Ygeman while allowing Hultqvist to stay on.
Parliament is in recess but the opposition parties will submit a request to the speaker to summon legislators for a vote within 10 days. If the opposition gets a majority the ministers will have to resign, a likely outcome as the nationalist Sweden Democrats have said they will support a vote of no-confidence.”
The Transport Agency has acknowledged that its former director-general, Maria Agren, was fired in March and fined 70,000 krona (about $8,500).
She’d approved the IBM contract that got around security and privacy laws. At a hearing in March, her defense was that the process was not outside accepted practices.
Despite Lofven’s action to hold those responsible accountable, the political opposition remains strong and committed to challenging his government.
It is obvious (they) have neglected their responsibility. They have not taken action to protect Sweden’s safety”, Centre party leader Annie Loof told a news conference.”
Financial observers see no impact on the Swedish currency or financial markets yet, but are keeping an eye on the scandal.
As is its normal practice, IBM has declined comment on its relationship with its client in Sweden.
Perfect !
F**k em’ let them burn in thier house of matches.
↖️ Click picture to follow me, if you wish. I have many statuses that may grasp your attention that You may want to share. Or maybe, my knowledge gives you something to think about. #TeamTrump
Well…bye!
You let them in
no guts, no backbone, stupidity. It will fall and Sweden will be no more