The issue was raised after the murder of a young woman in Rönninge last winter, where the suspected perpetrator had repeatedly changed his identity and had his personal data protected. Another example is the former CEO of Think Pink, convicted of an environmental crime, who is said to have changed his name 17 times.
The government is concerned that the 2017 Names Act, which made it easier to change names, is being exploited by criminals. The Swedish Tax Agency is now being tasked with producing statistics on how often and on what grounds this happens. They will also, in collaboration with the police, investigate whether criminals are systematically using name changes to evade detection.
The Swedish Tax Agency will also analyze whether protected information is being used to conceal criminal activity.
