Swedish Home Guard faces security concerns over Slack data

Internal sources within the Swedish Home Guard (Hemvärnet) have raised security alarms regarding the use of the American communication platform Slack. The organization utilizes the tool to allow its 22,000 members to communicate across various units and formations.

Concerns have been raised that sensitive personal information is easily accessible within a general group on the platform. Profiles visible to all members include names, email addresses, photos, phone numbers, ranks, and specific unit assignments. In some instances, searches for intelligence company abbreviations have revealed large collections of these details.

An anonymous Home Guard soldier described the situation as “extremely inappropriate,” suggesting that the ease of access to such data could assist foreign powers in mapping the Swedish defense structure. While the organization previously requested that profiles exclude certain details, much of this information reportedly remains visible.