Please share this information with your friends, as many people are unaware that they can remove their personal data from these search services mentioned in the article.
The Telephone Directory In the past
Sweden had something called the "telefonkatalogen", a thick book that was distributed to households and also available in phone booths where you could call. The book containing information about private individuals was called the "white pages" and included phone numbers and addresses of private individuals. The white pages went out of print in 2012 when Eniro (formerly Telia) stopped printing and distributing these directories.
The Internet and Searchable Information
With the rise of the internet, Eniro, the company behind the telephone directories, made the information searchable online instead. It was then easy to find information about both private individuals and companies with just a few clicks.
Competitors' Growth
A major competitor emerged with Hitta.se, which had the same idea as Eniro to make it easy for visitors to find information about private individuals and companies. Information about private individuals was initially expensive, and it was difficult to compete with the giants Eniro and Hitta. However, as information about private individuals became cheaper, small companies like MrKoll, Merinfo, and Ratsit emerged, whose sole purpose was to monetize through advertising or charge for accessing personal information.
Even More Information
With many public registers in Sweden and the ability to cross-reference registers, even more personal information was added, including birthdate, where you live, and estimated value, information about family members, your neighbors, average salary, vehicle ownership, and your engagements in companies, etc. It became a inflation of personal information that can now be searched just by knowing your name.
Data Protection Authority (IMY) and Voluntary Disclosure Certificate
There is a Swedish authority, IMY, whose task is to protect your personal data and ensure that it does not fall into the wrong hands. IMY receives many complaints every year about these websites that make personal information searchable. The challenge is that these search services have something called voluntary disclosure certificates "frivillig utgivningsbevis", which give them the right to publish private information from public registers on the internet. However, there may be changes and proposals within the EU and Sweden that could change this right for search services to publish information about private individuals online. You can read more about IMY and their work on their website.
How to Remove Yourself from Public Searchable Registers
This is a small guide on how you can contact or remove yourself from searchable information about yourself.
- Eniro.se: Easily remove your information with BankID. Follow this link
- Hitta.se: Easily remove all your information with BankID. Follow this link
- Merinfo.se: Easily remove your information with BankID. Follow this link
- Ratsit.se: Remove your information with BankID. Follow this link
- MrKoll.se: You can only hide your phone number and delivery address. You identify yourself with BankID. Follow this link
- Birthday.se: There is only a contact form. Visit this link to access the form.
You need to request the removal in person by using the links mentioned. IMY will also recommend you to first contact the search services. If you still have problems removing your information, you can contact IMY.
