“Speech that incites violence and hatred on grounds of race, colour, religion or ethnic origin is illegal in the EU, including when it takes place online”. While this may seem obvious, given the 2008 framework decision on racism and xenophobia, this reminder on the part of European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Janusz Wojciechowski, to MEPs at the plenary session in Strasbourg on Thursday 24 October, reflects the difficulties involved in detecting and suppressing hate speech on social networks.
Indeed, more than 14% of people in the European Union have been victims of cyberbullying since 2018, according to figures published by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency in November 2023.
In response to this phenomenon, which Mr Wojciechowski describes as an “anti-democratic” danger, with young people the prime target, the EU has stepped up its initiatives - detailed by the Commissioner - both to regulate platforms and to curb violent content based on artificial intelligence, tackle disinformation and provide digital education.
The Commissioner’s comments were echoed by MEPs from the EPP, S&D, Renew Europe, The Greens/EFA and The Left groups.
Alex Agius Saliba (S&D, Maltese) pointed a finger at “profit-hungry” platforms in a “digital Wild West”. He also called for digital education, without neglecting the causes of radicalisation within society.
Kim Van Sparrentak (Greens/EFA, Dutch) and Pernando Barrena Arza (The Left, Spanish) highlighted the role of elected representatives and public authorities in this fight.
Lídia Pereira (EPP, Portuguese) argued that “respect between men and women must be a fundamental element of this new digital society”.
Laurence Farreng (Renew Europe, French) sounded the alarm over neo-Nazi propaganda that had “become cool”, calling for more sanctions.
On the right of the Chamber, however, voices such as those of Jorge Buxadé Villalba (PfE, Spanish) and Piotr Müller (ECR, Poland) spoke out against what they saw as restrictions on freedom of expression. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)