Text by Eva Panjan, Slovenia
Hate speech is taking over social networks and daily conversations. A panel discussion at EYE 2016 highlighted the failure to react to and remove hateful comments from social media around the world. It also emphasised the need for a more robust European framework.
“Vote Trump! He will send #rapefugees to MECCA. Let Allah take care of them.” The phrase appeared on the screen behind the speakers. Then, another one. “Every Muslim is a terrorist!”
These were just some of the examples of hate speech Menno Ettema, Viktor Szabados and Iana Minochkina, members of No hate speech movement (NHSM) presented on Friday morning. A 2015 study by the European Parliament suggests that incidents involving hate speech and hate crime are becoming more frequent, even though there is sweeping European law that governs these issues.
Viktor Szabados from NHSM explained that hate speech, as defined by the Council of Europe, covers “all forms of expression which spread, incite, promote or justify racial hatred, xenophobia, anti-Semitism or other forms of hatred based on intolerance.” It also includes intolerance expressed by aggressive nationalism and ethnocentrism, discrimination and hostility against minorities, migrants and people of immigrant origin.
In an interview, Slovenian experts said that the European refugee crisis has increased hostility across Europe and worldwide. Among them, publicist Janez Markeš said that hostility was generated because of an incorrect political response to the migrant crisis.
“We need to be worried. It is a part of the trend of undermining human right standards,” Menno Ettema said after the workshop. “We need to keep in mind that people have the right to seek protection and at the same time they have the right to express their concerns. This needs a debate and sometimes it is a painful one. But hate speech does not allow us to express ourselves. It actually blocks proper debate.”
Some political parties across Europe, mostly right wing, took advantage of the refugee crisis and people’s response to it, adopting the hostile attitude in order to gain political points. The same study also suggests that over 10% of all member of the European Parliament are from parties propagating racist and or xenophobic ideas.
But hate speech is not only directed at refugees. It also affects the LGBTQ community, ethnic and religious groups. “It is true, that the adverse dialogue targeting refugees is on the rise, but sexist hate speech seems to be considered as a joke,” warned Ettema. Legal experts from Slovenia are warning that similar political and social circumstances occurred in the 1930’s, when fascism and Nazism were born.
The problem is that there is a feeling that hate speech, especially online, is not sanctioned properly. National legislation needs to be updated to reflect the change in the online world, Ettema said: “We need to work on clear guidelines, clear legislation, decide what is acceptable and what not and what would be the punishment if someone crosses the line.”
But on the other hand, it is very important to educate people. Ettema is sure that our society needs clear standards, clear reporting mechanisms and education about how to act online.
“Be active, report it, and don’t look away when you notice hate speech online and be conscious about your online behavior. Think twice before you share hateful comments,” he said.
