Sweden Democrats, Swedish politics | – Revealed “troll factory” at Swedish party office

TV 4’s “Kalla Fakta” has, with the help of a hidden camera, revealed what they believe to be a link between the Sweden Democrats, and Riks.

The latter is a YouTube channel that produces, among other things, anti-immigration content, which is allegedly spread on the internet using a large number of fake accounts.

The content is also apparently intended to support the SD and undermine their political opponents.

SD has for several years denied the rumors that they operate some kind of troll factory.

“Kalla Fakta” has over several months infiltrated the communications department at SD.

“Kalla Fakta” claims they have identified three people who operate anonymous accounts on behalf of the Sweden Democrats’ communications manager Joakim Wallerstein.

– This thing about troll factories often appears before elections, and this is then launched. It is very relevant that you go in and own the forum. That has been SD’s strong point when it comes to communication on Facebook and other social platforms, says one of TV 4’s sources.

Alleged link

The conservative YouTube channel Riks was established in 2020 by the Sweden Democrats. Last year, the channel was sold to the former SD politician Jacob Hagnell, writes SVT.

SD’s communications manager Wallerstein has claimed that the YouTube channel is completely disconnected from the party’s communications department.

But “Kalla Fakta” reveals that the Riks editorial office and SD’s communications department are located in the same building, and that the doors between the two premises “are completely open”.

Columnist in the Swedish Expressen, David Baas, writes that TV viewers who had expected an unvarnished insight from the inside of SD – characterized by “drunk and racism” – will be disappointed.

– The first programme’s revelation seems instead to be that the Sweden Democrats have not cut ties with Riks, despite the party claiming that they should do so last year, writes Bass in Expressen.

– It is probably only strikingly naive people who have bought into the deception that Riks should be something other than an obedient propaganda channel for the party, but “Cold facts” clearly show that talk of an independent Riks is a distraction, writes Bass.

Rejects

Baas adds that there have been many years of rumors and revelations in the Swedish press that SD has used various methods to spread disinformation to voters.

He writes that Expressen was already able to reveal in 2015 that SD used various Facebook pages to influence public opinion and attack political opponents.

Wallerstein denies to TV 4 that he runs any kind of troll factory. He claims that his employees refer to the business as a “troll factory” only because the media has done so.

– I don’t think I have run so-called troll sites for the simple reason that I have not spread information that has been incorrect, he says to TV 4.