Comment by patapong
3 days ago
Yep! In Sweden, this is part of the constitution. I think it beautifully demonstrates that the state works for the public, and that all information held by the state should by default also be accessible to members of the public, unless there is an important exception, such as personal medical privacy or national security.
It acts as a great tool for journalists, who are able to obtain meaningful insight into the actions of the state at all levels. While of course there are downsides, I think this is a very important principle.
Here you get SWATted for "fun" by kids, and targeted by Right-Wing extremists with death-threats for "political speech", and targeted by criminals based upon your vulnerability. USA is sooooo not Sweden.
The wonderful thing about SWATing is the sinister nature if it. It is a euphemism, for the fact that the US is a police state. So much so that private citizens can manipulate it as a weapon.
There is no consequence, or even drastic change in policy, for the police in the face if this phenomenon. But if the same private citizen were to hire or manipulate a gang to carry out such an attack, everyone would be in prison for life.