Sweden's Supreme Court has ruled against the sale and mass distribution of court records containing personal data, citing conflicts with the EU's GDPR regulations.

This decision directly impacts companies like Lexbase and Siren, which previously provided searchable databases of court rulings for paying customers.

The ruling restricts access to new court records, though existing data remains available.

Critics argue this limits press freedom and hampers background checks, while supporters highlight privacy concerns and potential misuse of such data.

The decision also calls for legislative action to balance privacy and transparency.

A related case awaits a ruling from the EU Court of Justice, which could further shape the outcome.