THE 2026 ELECTION
On 13 September, parliamentary, regional and municipal council elections will be held in Sweden. The Government, the Psychological Defence Agency and many other Swedish authorities are engaged in an extensive effort to protect the general elections from malign information influence.
ELECTION INTERFERENCE
Information that affects our decisions
In today’s digital environment, various actors attempt to sway how and what we think using different types of content that, in turn, can resemble regular information. The difference lies in the underlying motives and, to some extent, in the methods used.
European elections in 2025
The Psychological Defence Agency has monitored a number of European elections that were held in 2025 to develop Sweden’s psychological defence. In many of the elections, both previously known influence tactics – but also new ones – were used.
HOW THE ELECTION IS PROTECTED
Authorities joining forces to combat election interference
The Psychological Defence Agency is part of the national elections network headed by the Swedish Election Authority, which also includes several other agencies. The aim of the network is to reinforce protection of elections through coordination before, during and after the election. The Psychological Defence Agency is already engaged in both capability-enhancing activities designed for other actors in society, and collaboration to bolster resilience.
The Psychological Defence Agency’s situational assessment ahead of the election
Sweden and Swedish elections are not currently a priority target for Russian information influence. At the same time, the 2026 elections in Sweden are being held against a backdrop of serious security concerns, reflected in a high degree of uncertainty, which could increase the risk of election interference.
Strengthen your resilience ahead of the election
Antagonistic foreign powers can use disinformation, misleading information and propaganda to harm Sweden. Get the tools to build up your resilience.
Knowledge resources for public-sector actors
The Capabilities Portal is a tool that helps you and your organisation to develop your psychological defence capabilities. It consists of three elements – Prevent, Manage and Develop. Together, they provide a comprehensive understanding of how to strengthen preparedness and ability to act when faced with malign information influence.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why is there a rise in malign information influence in connection with elections?
An election year may involve a heightened risk of information influence from foreign powers. In recent years, among others, the following factors have affected these risks:
- A deteriorating state of security in Sweden’s regional vicinity due to Russia’s war on Ukraine, as well as unpredictable developments in the global security landscape.
- Technological advancements with a particular focus on Al.
The 2026 general elections are also the first to be held since Sweden became a NATO member. Elections across Europe in 2024 and 2025 have highlighted that Russia, and to some extent other threat actors, possess a broad toolkit and strong capabilities for attempting to sway electoral campaigns and election outcomes in various ways.
What might the objectives of antagonistic actors be in their attempt to interfere with elections?
- Swaying the outcome of the election to the advantage of foreign powers
- Reducing voter turnout
- Discrediting election candidates
- Undermining confidence in the electoral process and the functioning of society
- Polarising society
What can I do as an individual?
You are part of Sweden’s psychological defence. If you are able recognise and deal with disinformation, misleading information and propaganda, it will be more difficult for antagonistic foreign powers to cause division. This in turn helps protect Sweden and Swedish interests. The harder it is to fool you, the stronger our open, democratic society will be.
- Watch out
Watch out for information, images or other material that you find upsetting or frightening, or that evoke strong emotions. Antagonistic foreign powers frequently play on your emotions to influence you. - Think twice
Avoid engaging in spreading disinformation, misleading information and propaganda. Think twice before sharing information with friends or on social media. - Check the source
Learn how digital platforms work and be critical of sources. In a time when algorithms control much of our feeds, it is easy to get drawn into a specific narrative – but remember to take a step back and double-check the information. - Look for verified information
Pay attention to information from authorities and stay informed. This is particularly important when something happens that evokes strong emotions.
What is psychological defence?
Psychological defence is society’s common capabilities for identifying and resisting malign information influence directed at Sweden by antagonistic foreign powers or other external threat actors.
We are all part of the psychological defence – agencies, municipalities, regions, civil society, businesses, the cultural sector and everyone living in Sweden. Our collective resilience against disinformation, misleading information and propaganda will prevent or pre-empt antagonists from influencing our decisions, perceptions or behaviour. During peacetime, in a heightened state of alert or at war alike, psychological defence is to ensure Sweden’s freedom and independence, an open and democratic society with freedom of opinion and free media.
Strong psychological defence rests on three pillars:
- free, scrutinising independent media
- a well-informed and well-educated population
- a society that holds together, in which people trust in each other and in authorities.
What does the Psychological Defence Agency do?
The Agency leads efforts to coordinate, develop and strengthen Sweden’s psychological defence. In order to strengthen our psychological defence and capabilities for resisting external influences, we inform and support the population of Sweden, as well as agencies, municipalities, regions, the business sector, civil society and other organisations. We do so through training, exercises, information initiatives and knowledge enhancement.
An important part of our work is also preventing, detecting, analysing and counteracting malign information influence and other misleading information that can pose a threat to the people of Sweden.
What is malign information influence?
Malign information influence is when antagonistic foreign powers or other external threat actors attempt to detrimentally influence, disrupt or steer public discourse in Sweden. Means of information influence include disinformation, misleading information and propaganda.
For something to be identified as malign information influence, the following criteria must be met:
Misleading
The information influence is deliberately misleading. Reliable communication is open and transparent, and its content is credible and verifiable.
Intentional
The information influence aims to undermine constructive dialogue and open debate. Reliable communication is to contribute to and strengthen constructive debate, even if the content or arguments might be controversial in themselves.
Disturbing
The information influence disrupts and weakens the functioning of society and our democratic discourse. Reliable communication is a natural part of our society which, although it can sometimes cause friction, bolsters our democracy.
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Democracy
A strong democracy has numerous protection mechanisms that help us to resist malign information influence.
Source criticism
Source criticism will help you to determine what is credible and how you can evaluate what you are reading, seeing and hearing.
Resilience
Resilience is about our ability to resist – for example, when foreign powers try to influence us with misleading and false information.
Willingness to defend
Willingness to defend is about being ready and willing to protect our country, our values and our freedom from external threats.
