About: hate speech
France to force web giants to delete some content within the hour
Social networks and other online content providers will have to remove paedophile and terrorism-related content from their platforms within the hour or face a fine of up to 4% of their global revenue under a French law voted in on Wednesday.
Digital Brief: The return of the Digital Tax
French Parliamentarians today voted to approve plans that would see a 3% levy imposed on any digital company with revenues of more than €750 million, with €25m of that figure being generated in France. The green light came after some heavy pressure from US counterparts who attempted to sway the French.
Germany wants to fine Facebook over hate speech reporting
Social media platforms in Germany are obliged to report hate speech and other illegal content. Germany's Federal Office of Justice is expected to slap a €2 million fine on Facebook for reporting only a fraction of such activity on its platform. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Facebook to give data on hate speech suspects to French courts
Facebook has agreed to hand over the identification data of French users suspected of hate speech on its platform to judges, France’s minister for digital affairs Cedric O said on Tuesday (25 June).
Austria plans to force social media to identify users as bar to hate speech
Austria’s right-wing government plans to force large social and traditional media to verify their users’ identity so that individuals can be tracked down if they post hate speech online anonymously, it said on Wednesday. The measure, part of a bill...
Gdańsk mayor’s murder sends shockwaves through EU
Paweł Adamowicz, the liberal mayor of the Polish city of Gdańsk, died on Monday (14 January) of his wounds, a day after being stabbed by a man who rushed the stage during a charity event. EU officials said they were devastated and expressed utter shock.
Croatia ombudswoman accuses government of tolerating fascism in scathing report
Croatia's Ombudswoman published a report on Tuesday (19 November) in which she accused a number of state institutions of endangering the fundamental values of the Constitution and allowing hate speech by being ineffective and tolerating revisionism and the use of explicit Nazi-era symbols. EURACTIV Croatia reports.
Obama, Clinton, CNN among targets of suspected bombs ahead of US election
Former US President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were among the targets of suspected package bombs delivered to several high-profile Democrats and CNN, which the FBI said it was investigating as an act of terrorism.
Czech president defends assertion that most Roma don’t work
The Czech president refused on Sunday (7 October) to back down from comments slamming what he called a 90% unemployment rate among the country's Roma, earning a rebuke from campaigners and rights activists.
Blood and soil: How hate speech is destroying political discourse
Anybody with an internet connection and a social media profile will have seen examples of hate speech against migrants and refugees in recent years. And we’re not talking about legitimate criticism of globalisation or Europe’s current migration policy – rather, dehumanising and violent language, calling for the sinking of refugee boats or the gassing of migrants.
Campaigners lock horns with EU justice chief on ‘hate speech’
EU Justice Commissioner Věra Jourová stood by the EU's principles that freedom of speech was not absolute at a panel discussion held in Brussels, saying that attempts to regulate hate speech were justified but her comments prompted a fierce debate.
A European vision for human-centred digital platform ecosystems
Europe must continue to establish itself as the global regulator of digital technology serving Europeans and respond to growing pressure from online platforms, write Mariya Gabriel and Mounir Mahjoubi.
Commission faces backlash for plan to fast-track tech platforms’ removal of illegal posts
Internet platforms are coming under more and more pressure in Europe, and now face a potential legal threat if they do not remove posts with terrorist content within one hour.
EU adds pressure on online platforms with plan for fast removal of terrorist content
Online platforms should remove posts promoting terrorism within one hour after receiving complaints, according to a draft European Commission document that leaked on Tuesday (13 February).
UN to slap sanctions for hate speech in Central African Republic
The UN Security Council yesterday (30 January) maintained an arms embargo on the Central African Republic and added incitement to hatred as well as attacks on aid workers as criteria for sanctions.
Education is the best way to tackle fake news – Neelie Kroes
Education is the best way to confront fake news but regulation also plays a part and freedom of speech should not take precedence over the need to remove inflammatory content and hate speech, former European Commissioner Neelie Kroes told EURACTIV.com.
Facebook tries out charm offensive with four EU Commissioners
Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg attempted to woo a team of four EU Commissioners during closed-door meetings Tuesday (23 January) on tense issues like hate speech and online platform transparency.
Jourova: ‘Never say never’ to EU hate speech law
Tech giants should share the technology they develop to detect hate speech with smaller companies, EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova said in an interview.
Commission backs away from regulating online platforms over hate speech
The European Commission is backing away from a plan to propose binding EU legislation that would force online platforms to remove posts containing hate speech.
Five Commissioners team up to threaten internet platforms with EU legislation
Five EU Commissioners all wanted a piece of the action on Tuesday (9 January) at a meeting with CEOs from some of the biggest internet platforms.
Macron targets Russian fake news, moving ahead of Commission plans
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday (3 January) that a law against fake news is in the making in France. The legislation is clearly aimed at Russian propaganda and should be completed by the end of 2018, government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux added on Thursday.
Poland probes pictures of MEPs ‘on gallows’ at far-right demonstration
Poland's justice minister announced an investigation on Monday (27 November) after mocked-up pictures of opposition MEPs allegedly hanging on gallows were unfurled at a far-right demonstration on Saturday.
Gabriel leading Commission effort against fake news ‘disease’
Fake news is a disease that European society needs to be “vaccinated” against, the EU's Digital Commissioner Mariya Gabriel said as she opened a call for public comments on possible EU responses to the spread of false information on internet platforms.