Swedish web traffic tumbles as IPRED arrives

New anti-piracy law hits net usage

Internet usage in Sweden took a dramatic 30 per cent dip on Wednesday, as the country’s new anti-file sharing law came into effect.

According to Netnod, which measures web traffic access points between five Swedish cities and international networks, internet usage was 30 per cent lower at 4pm on 1 April, compared to on the eve (31 March) of IPRED coming into force.

It recorded 80Gbps of traffic on Wednesday compared to Tuesday’s 120Gbps. Over the previous week traffic had been flowing at a steady rate, reports The Local.

The new Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive (IPRED) law, based on a European Union directive, was brought in by the Swedish government to force ISPs to cough up the personal details of suspected copyright infringers.

It comes just over a fortnight before a judgement is due to be heard in Stockholm over the now infamous Entertainment Industry vs. The Pirate Bay trial.

Many are predicting that - regardless of the outcome of that trial - whichever side sees the judgment go against it will issue an appeal. ®