Overview of Relevant Legislation

As the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance adopted in 2016, antisemitism “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.” (https://holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definition-antisemitism)

EU Code of Conduct on Countering Illegal Hate Speech Online

The Code of Conduct on Countering Illegal Hate Speech Online establish by the EU on May 2016, outlines commitments by IT companies to combat illegal hate speech effectively. Here are the code’s commitments:

Prompt Review and Removal

IT companies commit to reviewing the majority of notifications of illegal hate speech within 24 hours.

If the content is found to violate hate speech laws, it will be removed or disabled promptly.

User-Friendly Reporting

Platforms pledge to develop and implement reporting mechanisms that are easy for users to access and understand.

These mechanisms should enable users to report hate speech effectively, ensuring their concerns are addressed efficiently.

Collaboration with Civil Society

IT companies work closely with civil society organizations and trusted flaggers to identify and tackle illegal hate speech.

Training and capacity-building programs are provided for these groups to enhance their ability to detect and report problematic content.

Transparency

Companies commit to publishing regular reports on the actions they take to counter illegal hate speech, including:

• The number of reports reviewed.
• The time taken to process reports.
• The actions taken against flagged content.

Counter-Narratives

IT platforms support and promote counter-speech initiatives to challenge and discredit hateful content effectively.

This involves collaborating with organizations and individuals to amplify positive and inclusive messages.

Consistency with National Laws

Platforms ensure their policies align with the hate speech laws of the countries they operate in, respecting the legal framework of each jurisdiction.

Ongoing Improvement

IT companies regularly evaluate their procedures and tools to improve their efficiency in combating hate speech.

For more information, please click here to view the full report

Understanding hate crime legislation is essential for building safer communities. Explore the laws in your country and across the EU that protect against hate crimes, hate speech, Holocaust denial, and antisemitism. HOPE provides up-to-date resources that clarify these legal protections and help you stay informed on your rights. Visit the EU’s official legislation database to explore protections in your region.