In the aftermath of the controversy surrounding deleted text messages from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Barbara Bertelsen, new guidelines have been implemented mandating that politicians and civil servants retain their text messages for a significantly longer duration. According to Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard, the updated guidelines stipulate that text messages “must” be preserved, rather than merely “should,” as previously indicated.

The issue came to public attention during the Mink Case, which involved the culling of millions of minks in an attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19. It was revealed that several politicians and senior officials had set their phones to automatically delete text messages after 30 days. This automatic deletion occurred during a critical period when significant decisions were being made, drawing considerable scrutiny.

The newly updated guidelines, which were finalized prior to the summer holidays, state that regular civil servants are required to store text messages for five years, while department heads must retain them for ten years. For ministers and heads of departments, the retention period is set at 25 years. Despite this significant extension, it is emphasized that the guidelines themselves do not constitute law but instead lay the groundwork for how governmental authorities will manage electronic communication moving forward.

The Mink Commission, which investigated the culling case, was surprised to encounter resistance to providing the deleted text messages, as there had not been a previous requirement for their disclosure. During a parliamentary hearing, Hummelgaard noted that the deletion of messages was not necessarily contrary to the prior guidelines, as long as all significant communications were accurately documented.

However, during the hearings, it emerged that several of the deleted messages contained important information. Of particular interest were text messages from Bertelsen, which revealed that civil servants from the Prime Minister’s Office were pushing Food Minister Mogens Jensen to take political responsibility for the unlawful culling of minks. One message highlighted the need for “maximum humility.”

At this time, the Ministry of Justice has denied that the revised guidelines represent any form of admission of error. Hummelgaard did express reflection on specific details of the case and indicated a commitment to more thorough preparation ahead of further interviews.