this post was submitted on 30 Jun 2026

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FallenWalnut@lemmy.world

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The CEO of Mullvad is the main financer of the far-right Swedish Örebro party (www.techradar.com)

submitted 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) by FallenWalnut@lemmy.world to c/PurchaseWithPurpose@lemmy.world

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Worth noting if you are using their VPN services or Browser.

EDIT: Apparently, labelling them as far-right isn't as clear-cut from an economic perspective, but they do hold many core identity politics that are common amongst far-right parties such as:

Voiced support for the idea of large-scale remigration on multiple occasions, even for Swedish-born immigrants: "Sweden belongs to the Swedes"
Supports Sweden leaving NATO
In favor of Sweden leaving the European Union in a so-called "Swexit"
Stated that Sweden should only support other countries on the condition that it benefits Sweden and that it has to be "Sweden first"

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[–] ChicoSuave@lemmy.world 87 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Daniel Berntsson, co-founder and co-owner of Mullvad VPN, has donated 5 million Swedish kronor (around $514,000) of his personal funds to the controversial populist Örebro Party.

First reported by local news outlet Flamman, the 2025 donation accounted for 72% of the party's total income last year.

He is the reason the party still exists

[–] KaChilde@sh.itjust.works 26 points 6 days ago

People have been throwing around this “Personal funds” thing in all the reporting on this story. Trying to distance the company from the asshole.

Where exactly did Daniel’s “Personal funds” come from? Surely not the popular VPN that he is the co-owner of.

[–] frtzngbllr@lemmy.world 50 points 6 days ago (1 children)

The only right move would be to remove him from the company entirely.

[–] AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space 34 points 6 days ago

Given that he owns half of the company, that’s easier said than done

[–] lime@feddit.nu 34 points 6 days ago (1 children)

he's co-ceo and his co-founder has publically stated that he finds it unacceptable, but that "it's his money". don't really agree with that stance but point is this is still developing. they may let him go.

[–] DarkCloud@lemmy.world 36 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I don't get why a person can donate that much to a political party. Should be illegal.

[–] lime@feddit.nu 4 points 6 days ago (4 children)

if you think that's bad you'll love the socdem party's lottery business, which is the main source of income for sweden's largest party and which they've managed to make illegal for any other party.

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[–] JoeTheSane@lemmy.world 14 points 5 days ago

Jesus fucking Christ! I can’t use anything anymore. I think it’s time for me to take a few steps back from tech.

[–] Lor@leminal.space 9 points 5 days ago

And mullvad is on social media defending him. Quit mullvad. F*k fascism.

[–] bryndos@fedia.io 7 points 6 days ago (7 children)

Thanks, damn this is quite a good VPN. Any other decent options in the similar price range?

[–] Turret3857@infosec.pub 6 points 6 days ago (2 children)

IVPN is my understanding. They supposedly provide support to the EFF

[–] asdfasdfasdf@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago

I looked at IVPN but it makes me sad that they wrote it in C, while Mullvad is Rust.

[–] wingnut@lemmy.zip 2 points 5 days ago

Ill check them out!

[–] dreamkeeper@literature.cafe 3 points 5 days ago (3 children)

I already have proton drive which comes with proton vpn. So I started using that. EU-based VPN and so far it's been noticeably faster than mullvad with fewer captchas too. So I can't complain.

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[–] SirW00talot@lemmy.world 5 points 6 days ago

They advertise all over Seattle transit, glad to know I shouldn't be doing business with them.

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