The collection of equality data, and more specifically race and ethnicity data, as a means to prevent discrimination is a common practice in many countries around the world. Through anonymous and voluntary surveys people are regularly asked to self-identify according to a number of categories such as gender, age and ethnic background. In Sweden, however, we rely on the population register as the only source for gathering statistics in order to conduct research on different social groups. From the register you can access information regarding age, gender and geographics but no data can be collected concerning categories like sexual orientation, religious beliefs, disabilities, ethnicity and race. According to some, this creates an obstacle in the fight against racism, in that it is impossible to successfully fight oppression without knowing which people it affects and how. According to others, it is ethically indefensible and even racist to collect such information about individuals. In recent years several political proposals have been made from left wing parties calling for the introduction of equality statistics in Sweden. These proposals have been met by heavy criticism and some rare appraisal. Within the academic field, researchers Tobias Hübinette and the research group Methodological Laboratories represent two different positions in the discussion about equality data. This essay aims to examine these positions as well as the general debate in relation to theories about critical whiteness studies in a Swedish context, the historic evolution of the concept of race in Sweden and the Swedish ideology of colour blindness.