Tobias Thyberg stepped down from his position as security adviser just hours after explicit photos from a gay dating app were sent to the prime minister’s office and various news organizations.
Tobias Thyberg’s tenure as Sweden’s national security advisor was cut short by his resignation, prompted by the dissemination of explicit images linked to a dating app account. The incident has reverberated throughout Sweden’s political circles, raising concerns about the thoroughness of security vetting procedures and potential involvement by foreign entities.
Thyberg, who previously served as Sweden’s ambassador to Ukraine from 2019 to 2023, was appointed national security advisor shortly before noon on Thursday, according to Dagens Nyheter.
Approximately 30 minutes later, an anonymous email containing explicit photos, purportedly of Thyberg, was sent to Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s office. These images, reportedly sourced from an old Grindr account, a dating app for gay men, were subsequently shared with several media outlets, including Dagens Nyheter.
By midnight, Thyberg had informed the news outlet of his decision to resign, confirming the leak. “I should have informed about this but I didn’t,” he told the newspaper, in reference to the pictures.
The newspaper noted that the images were not publicly available but were shared on a private channel, and that many dated back six or seven years. The source and method of distribution of the images remain unclear, but Dagens Nyheter reported that the sender used a private email service with robust encryption.
Prime Minister Kristersson has initiated an investigation into the matter but has refrained from commenting on the potentially compromising nature of the materials. Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer confirmed that the sensitive images did not surface during Thyberg’s security clearance, adding that Thyberg should have disclosed them himself. Former Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist suggested the scandal could negatively impact Sweden’s relationships with international partners.
Dagens Nyheter, citing sources, reported speculation within the Swedish government about potential foreign involvement in the release of the images. Another source told the paper that it is “incomprehensible why this vulnerability was not discovered in the security clearance. The position is placed in the highest security class.”
The role of national security advisor in Sweden, established in 2022, carries significant influence despite being less prominent than its US counterpart. The advisor reports directly to the prime minister and handles classified information. The position has faced increased scrutiny recently, following the January resignation of Henrik Landerholm, who was indicted for allegedly leaving classified documents in a hotel room – an accusation he denies.
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