The Swedish government is considering age restrictions for social media users to curb the recruitment of younger individuals by criminal gangs, according to a report from Reuters.
Law enforcement officials in the Scandinavian country shared with the news outlet that organized crime syndicates are increasingly leveraging popular digital platforms to enlist minors to commit illegal activities on their behalf, including murder and violent terrorist acts.
"It's a very serious situation," Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer said after a Monday meeting on the subject with his counterparts from Denmark and industry representatives. "We are not ruling out anything."
Authorities in Sweden have confirmed 93 suspects under 15 years old are believed to be involved in significant offenses this year, many of whom were initially contacted by adults online.
The nation’s Education Minister, Johan Pehrson, told Reuters that he was reviewing the Australian Parliament's move last month to prohibit social media access for those under 16, referring to the measure as "not the first step, but it's not ruled out."
Related Story: Australia to Mandate 16-Year Age Limit to Use Social Media
