No, there are of course exceptions to the rule. We have classified stuff as well. Ongoing investigations and some ongoing operations where disclosure could affect the outcome, people under witness protection or some other form of protection, stuff like that. Also, meeting transcripts and similar don't have to be public record. We have a Secret Service of our own. But a lot of things other countries classify we keep in the open. Offentlighetsprincipen also mandates that government employees are to present their respective public records upon demand by any Swedish citizen, and that they are committing a felony if they refuse or try to stop or stall the request. The crime committed is called tjänstefel, misconduct, and is punished with a fine or imprisonment for up to two years, or six years of the crime is considered aggravated.
One interesting side effect is that the folder tree listing of any government worker's work computer is considered a public record (but not necessarily the contents of the files themselves, depending) so in theory you could ask at any time to receive a directory tree and listing of any system in any government organisation. Note that I am more or less translating this directly from the Swedish Wikipedia page on Offentlighetsprincipen. You could read it yourself in Google Translate<http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=sv&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fsv.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FOffentlighetsprincipen&act=url>if you wish :) There is a fun story about the Cold War popularised by a famous author in Sweden. There was a Soviet spy who was very good at his job; every month he sent home data about Swedish army personnel, and the movements of the military in general. Of course, he got rewarded for this and rose in the ranks. Until it was figured out how he managed to get by all this information. Every month, he went down to our city hall (don't know if that's the right word, but think big official house of boredom), sifted through what in Sweden was considered public records, and sent copies back home. I can't recall in which book I read it, and I naturally don't have my private library with me to Uganda, but if you'd like I could ask a friend to find and send me the exact quote. On 12 May 2012 19:56, Otandeka Simon Peter <[email protected]> wrote: > You mean there is no use of the word "classified" in Sweden? > So you have access to *Militära underrättelse- och säkerhetstjänsten *(hope > I got it correct)* *missions? > We can write a script for a 24 season 9 after a hard day of coding... > LOL... Is Assange on this list? He could be interested in what you have to > offer.. > > My 2 Swedish crowns.. > > Nice weekend luggers. > > P. > > > On Sat, May 12, 2012 at 3:47 PM, Benjamin Tayehanpour < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> *Your* world, perhaps, but not mine. In Sweden we have something called >> offentlighetsprincipen. It basically means you as a citizen are allowed to >> request court transcripts for almost any case; blueprints for almost any >> building; information pertaining to individual citizens (including >> politicians and government officials) such as full name, address, date of >> birth, reported income and tax return, social ID number, passport photo, >> and a lot more information; police reports; military rosters; government >> office records; basically any record kept by any government organisation >> not considered especially sensitive. And the Swedish government has no >> right to require or even to ask you why you would want that information. >> And apparently it works quite well, since we're fourth on the list of least >> corrupt countries. (Corruption Perception Index, 2011.) >> >> So, pardon me, but if anyone is naïve here it's not me. >> >> By the way, you could draw parallels with open source development: Many >> eyes make for shallow code, and many eyes keep the government in line. >> >> >> On 12 May 2012 15:30, Sanga Collins <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> That's a naive view of the world we live in. Even parents keep secrets >>> from their children >>> >>> Sent from my mobile device >>> >>> On May 12, 2012, at 8:16 AM, Benjamin Tayehanpour < >>> [email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> I agree. A government organisation which keeps secrets from its citizens >>> is not doing its job. Transparency is a cornerstone of democracy, and also >>> a pretty efficient way to reduce or even nigh eliminate corruption. >>> >>> On 11 May 2012 18:29, Jake Markhus <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> Police data is not and should not be secret if they are doing the right >>>> thing! If they opened up they >>>> could benefit from opensource tools like openmaps. They could learn >>>> from geeks how to secure >>>> themselves. If they went Linux instead of windows they wouldn’t get >>>> hacked and compromised >>>> so often.**** >>>> >>>> When you need to get public work done go windows but if you really want >>>> control, security, >>>> accountability, robust and scalable computing, YOU GO LINUX! Did I >>>> mention cheap? **** >>>> >>>> ** ** >>>> >>>> *From:* [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] *On >>>> Behalf Of *erias swraggy >>>> *Sent:* 11 May 2012 17:49 >>>> >>>> *To:* Uganda Linux User Group >>>> *Subject:* Re: [LUG] OT: UG SUSE Mobile Command Center**** >>>> >>>> ** ** >>>> >>>> Well, not bad an idea expect that u gonna have to sign a bunch of lousy >>>> contracts refraining u frm sharing certain info evn wth ur most trusted >>>> geeks;then it wud require geeks to get into de program..u knw, lyk >>>> boy-scouts nt wth guns bt wth other force-gadgets, which tke long. I wud >>>> suggest however, dat they outsource de geeks as an orgz'd grp. it's a >>>> win-win. >>>> >>>> **** >>>> >>>> On Fri, May 11, 2012 at 4:11 PM, Jake Markhus <[email protected]> >>>> wrote:**** >>>> >>>> What about they advertise for geeks to get gigs or internships so that >>>> they can get up to speed faster.**** >>>> >>>> **** >>>> >>>> *From:* [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] *On >>>> Behalf Of *erias swraggy >>>> *Sent:* 11 May 2012 15:35 >>>> *To:* Uganda Linux User Group >>>> *Subject:* Re: [LUG] OT: UG SUSE Mobile Command Center**** >>>> >>>> **** >>>> >>>> To be honest am surprised to evn knw they use computers at our police >>>> stations. Well, congs to that. How about letting them on about linux and >>>> the magic it could do for police work once utilized as their main OS?** >>>> ** >>>> >>>> On Fri, May 11, 2012 at 9:39 AM, Benjamin Tayehanpour < >>>> [email protected]> wrote:**** >>>> >>>> Score! :D At least they now have *something* to their credit!**** >>>> >>>> On 11 May 2012 00:54, Daniel Bwente <[email protected]> wrote:**** >>>> >>>> Looks like its SUSE Linux 1 Windows 0 at Uganda Police. >>>> >>>> *http://tinyurl.com/cbba3pu >>>> >>>> *Cheers* >>>> * >>>> -- >>>> >>>> /Daniel >>>> >>>> >>>> **** >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug >>>> >>>> Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to: >>>> [email protected] >>>> Mailing list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>>> Mailing list settings: http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug >>>> To unsubscribe: http://kym.net/mailman/options/lug >>>> >>>> The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM: >>>> http://www.infocom.co.ug/ >>>> >>>> The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including >>>> attachments if any). The mailing list host is not responsible for them in >>>> any way.**** >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug >>>> >>>> Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to: >>>> [email protected] >>>> Mailing list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>>> Mailing list settings: http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug >>>> To unsubscribe: http://kym.net/mailman/options/lug >>>> >>>> The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM: >>>> http://www.infocom.co.ug/ >>>> >>>> The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including >>>> attachments if any). The mailing list host is not responsible for them in >>>> any way.**** >>>> >>>> **** >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug >>>> >>>> Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to: >>>> [email protected] >>>> Mailing list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>>> Mailing list settings: http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug >>>> To unsubscribe: http://kym.net/mailman/options/lug >>>> >>>> The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM: >>>> http://www.infocom.co.ug/ >>>> >>>> The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including >>>> attachments if any). The mailing list host is not responsible for them in >>>> any way.**** >>>> >>>> ** ** >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug >>>> >>>> Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to: >>>> [email protected] >>>> Mailing list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>>> Mailing list settings: http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug >>>> To unsubscribe: http://kym.net/mailman/options/lug >>>> >>>> The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM: >>>> http://www.infocom.co.ug/ >>>> >>>> The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including >>>> attachments if any). The mailing list host is not responsible for them in >>>> any way. >>>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug >>> >>> Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to: >>> [email protected] >>> Mailing list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>> Mailing list settings: http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug >>> To unsubscribe: http://kym.net/mailman/options/lug >>> >>> The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM: >>> http://www.infocom.co.ug/ >>> >>> The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including >>> attachments if any). The mailing list host is not responsible for them in >>> any way. >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug >>> >>> Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to: >>> [email protected] >>> Mailing list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>> Mailing list settings: http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug >>> To unsubscribe: http://kym.net/mailman/options/lug >>> >>> The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM: >>> http://www.infocom.co.ug/ >>> >>> The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including >>> attachments if any). The mailing list host is not responsible for them in >>> any way. >>> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug >> >> Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to: >> [email protected] >> Mailing list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> Mailing list settings: http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug >> To unsubscribe: http://kym.net/mailman/options/lug >> >> The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM: >> http://www.infocom.co.ug/ >> >> The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including >> attachments if any). The mailing list host is not responsible for them in >> any way. >> > > > _______________________________________________ > The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug > > Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to: > [email protected] > Mailing list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > Mailing list settings: http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug > To unsubscribe: http://kym.net/mailman/options/lug > > The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM: > http://www.infocom.co.ug/ > > The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including > attachments if any). The mailing list host is not responsible for them in > any way. >
_______________________________________________ The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to: [email protected] Mailing list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Mailing list settings: http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug To unsubscribe: http://kym.net/mailman/options/lug The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM: http://www.infocom.co.ug/ The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including attachments if any). The mailing list host is not responsible for them in any way.
