Lexbase

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Lexbase is a Swedish website and database that was launched on 27 January 2014, enabling users to perform searches on people and companies who had been the subject of criminal charges or civil claims in Swedish courts. Cases are deleted from the Lexbase database after 20 years. Lexbase owes its existence to Sweden's freedom of information principle (offentlighetsprincipen) for official documents, a right guaranteed by the Constitution of Sweden since 1766. The Principle of Public Access guarantees that official documents of government agencies can be accessed by the general public. There has been a discussion in Sweden over whether the freedom of information principle is adequately adapted to the modern society, but since the principle is guaranteed in the Swedish constitution it is very difficult to change. Moreover, the freedom of information principle is a source of pride among Swedish decision makers and citizens, since it allows a very high degree of transparency. It was one of the major rights that Sweden was allowed to retain when it joined the European Union, one which Swedish EU negotiators fervently argued they should keep at the time. Lexbase was closed down by the Internet service provider Bahnhof on 29 January 2014, just two days after launch, after the site came under heavy criticism from Swedish media, government and the general public. Through a virtual server by the company City Networks, Lexbase was able to relaunch on 31 January 2014, however it was closed down once again within hours of becoming available. Since the beginning of April 2014, Lexbase is up and running again. Lexbase not only provides access to a person's criminal record, but also to the verdict, judgment and sentencing.