EU Interior Ministers address how to prevent the dissemination of hatred online

Options for preventing the dissemination of hatred online were reviewed by Interior and Justice Ministers of the EU Member States in Luxembourg on 9 October. EU Justice Commissioner Věra Jourová said that large Internet firms should take the same approach on this issue that they have taken to eradicating the dissemination of child pornography.

The European Commission is already negotiating the matter with leading Internet players. "We acknowledge that it is easier to find and get rid of photographs of naked children, the definition of what is hate speech is far more complex," Jourová said.  

She also emphasized that there is a need to find the thin line beyond which what is at issue is not freedom of expression but clear support for hatred. The EU is already negotiating with big operators of social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.

Jourová met with representatives of these firms earlier this month. "We agreed that the dissemination of hatred is unacceptable," she said.

Germany is also holding talks with representatives of these firms. German Interior Minister Heiko Maas reminded journalists on 9 October that the companies themselves have already agreed to eradicate pornographic photographs of children.

Maas said representatives of Facebook, for example, indicated that the firm intends to expend significant amounts of money to combat hate speech. "This is a German initiative… but it’s not just a German problem, it concerns all of Europe," Maas noted.

Jourová also emphasized that while the Internet is a global medium, her main interest is in what happens in Europe. According to Czech Justice Minister Robert Pelikán it would also be appropriate to address the question of untruthful communications, which can be "created very believably" on Facebook and influence public opinion.

"I am not bothered by hateful commentaries so much, even though I am of course outraged by them when I read them and I find them regrettable. However, it is dangerous when people are presented with something that aims to spark hatred," the Czech Justice Minister said, adding that it is necessary to negotiate these matters primarily with representatives of Internet firms and seek common mechanisms for how to further proceed.