Almost half of Swedes, 48 percent of the 1,000 interviewed, consider the law to be wrong while only 32 percent are in favour, a new poll from Sifo shows.

The strongest opposition to the law can be found among young men, 15-29-years-old, Svenska Dagbladet writes. 79 percent of them oppose the law which will come into force on April 1st.

Those least negative to the law are the over-65s, with 27 percent against while 34 percent are in favour.

Those in the 50-54 age group are close to the average across the Swedish population with 45 percent registering their objections to the law.

The file sharing law, which is based on the European Union’s Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive (IPRED), will allow courts to order internet operators to hand over details that identify suspected illegal file-sharers.

Copyright holders would then be free to contact the file sharer in question and demand that they suspend their activities or risk prosecution.

When the bill was passed by parliament in February the debate was intense and criticism of the bill severe.

Opponents from the Left and Green parties claim the measure is a threat to democracy and personal integrity because it gives companies and copyright holders too much power to investigate and demand compensation from individuals for alleged copyright infringement.

The government contends that the law is necessary to protect the rights of film makers, authors, and artists by allowing them to earn a living from their creations.