Sweden considers to IP-block gambling sites

The government is weighing the possibility of blocking unlicensed gambling sites and seeks the technical support of Bahnhof, the Swedish internet service provider, in this endeavour.

Sweden.- Bahnhof, the Swedish internet service provider has been approached by the Swedish government to evaluate laws regarding online gambling and the possibility of IP-blocking unlicensed sites.

Bahnhof’s CEO, Jon Karlung, expressed that the provider is not either or “either for or against” the merits of gambling, as he is more concern with the censorship element of the initiative. “We want to strongly warn of action to close parts of the internet that authorities deem objectionable,” expressed Karlung. “Today there is no compelling state filtering of the internet in Sweden. To throttle the internet and freedom of communication is obviously the wrong way to go,” he added.

Bahnhof has been an advocate for controversial websites as WikiLeaks and various campaigns against internet censorship. Back in 2008, the company refused an attempt of the government to block access to file-sharing website Pirate Bay.