Markus Allard (Örebro Party) raised the alarm in the regional council about the mapping of citizens' political opinions. Now more details are emerging - after he himself contacted an official who worked on the material.
It was during Wednesday's meeting On April 8, in the Regional Council of Örebro, the issue of opinion registration was openly raised. From the rostrum, they accused Markus Allard, party leader of the Örebro Party, accused the regional government of using public resources to map political sympathies on social media. According to him, this is not a case of one-off observations, but of more systematic work where residents are documented based on their opinions.
- The Social Democrats have ordered officials to map Örebro Party sympathizers on social media.
Allard went on to describe how, in his view, the material was produced and structured.
- It is necessary to identify, record and systematically compile a file of voters' opinions.
Displayed materials in the hall
During the debate, he stated that he had seen such a document himself and showed it to Members. According to him, it contained names and details of people who had engaged with the Örebro Party's social media posts.
- Here we see a compilation where officials in the region have gone through social media comments [...] these people are not censored.
He also stressed that the persons concerned were not informed that their data was being collected.
- They have not been allowed to consent to their names appearing in a form of political record keeping.
Conversation with official
After the meeting, Mr. Allard chose to contact an official who had worked on the material himself. In that the conversation shows how the mission is described from the official's level. The official confirms that he received instructions and carried out the work.
- I have only followed what I have been told to do.
When pressed further about what the assignment entailed, Allard describes it as a mapping of social media reactions linked to a previous event in the regional council.
- What I have done [...] was to [...] look at how the reactions have been on social media around this.
The work involved several different sources and perspectives.
- Social media of different politicians, social media of different parties, how SVT has reported on it.
Screenshots and internal presentation
The conversation also reveals that the material was actually collected and stored in concrete form.
- Yes, screenshots from different places.
The official describes that the material was compiled as a basis within the organization, with a link to the democracy committee.
- I understand it [...] as a basis for the democracy committee [...] how it is generally perceived
He also states that the finalized material has been presented to the Bureau of the Regional Council, which means that it has reached the political level.
- I have [...] presented it to the Bureau of the Regional Council.
The way the mission enters the organization
When Allard asks about the origin of the assignment, it is clear that it was conveyed via the official level, but that the initiative may have come from higher up. The conversation also gives a picture of the scope. The official estimates that the work has been going on for several days.
- A few hours a day for a week, which in total would have been approximately equivalent to one working day.
Resources and priorities
Allard links this to the way public resources are used and returned to the same issue in the Council.
- Resources that could have gone to health care have been spent on [...] registering these people.
He has also warned on social media that the material includes ordinary users who have interacted with his posts.
”Several of you who have expressed support and approval for me and the Örebro Party here on X appear in their established document”.
The question that remains
The question now being debated is not just what has been done, but what the purpose is and how the material might be used in the future.
- The question is what step two is. What are you going to do with that document next?.
After the meeting, key questions remain about how far public actors can go in collecting and compiling data on citizens' political engagement - and how such practices should be audited.
Sossepatrasket is getting desperate and doing everything to keep power in the fall elections.Imagine if it was the other way around what life would have been in the msm but now it is quiet.