The Spread of Hate Speech and Hate Crime

In recent years, Europe has witnessed a troubling surge in hate speech and hate crimes targeting individuals and groups based on characteristics such as race, ethnicity, language, religion, nationality, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics, or other fundamental traits. This is not a marginal issue but a widespread phenomenon, with xenophobia, racism, and intolerance growing globally. Anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim sentiments are increasing, and neo-Nazi and white supremacist movements are gaining momentum. Hate is infiltrating mainstream society, affecting both liberal democracies and authoritarian regimes. Social media and other communication platforms are being used to propagate bigotry, and public discourse is being weaponized for political purposes, dehumanizing minorities, migrants, refugees, women, and others. Each violation of societal norms further erodes the foundations of our common humanity (European Commission, 2021; ECRI, 2019, 2020; OSCE ODHIR, 2020; United Nations, 2019).

This rise in hate is linked to various social, economic, and technological changes, including increased migration, successive economic and social crises, and the rapid dissemination of information via the internet and social networks. The COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have also exacerbated polarization, spreading racist, xenophobic, and intolerant speech and conspiracy theories (European Commission, 2021; Farinelli, 2021).

Citations

  • European Commission (2021). Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council. “A more inclusive and protective Europe: extending the list of EU crimes to hate speech and hate crime”. Brussels, 09.12.2021. COM(2021) 777 final.
  • ECRI annual report 2019 and 2020 at: https://rm.coe.int/ecri-annual-report-2019/16809ca3e1 and https://rm.coe.int/annualreport-on-ecri-s-activities-for-2020/1680a1cd59
  • Study commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs ‘Hate speech and hate crime in the EU and the evaluation of online content regulation approaches’, July 2020.
  • OSCE ODHIR, ‘Hate Crime Laws, A Practical Guide’
  • United Nations (2019). Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech. Retrieved on 09.05.2023 from https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/documents/UN%20Strategy%20and%20Plan%20of%20Action%20on%20Hate%20Speech%2018%20June%20SYNOPSIS.pdf
  • European Commission, authored by Farinelli, Francisco (2021). Conspiracy theories and right-wing extremism –Insights and recommendations for P/CVE. Radicalisation Awareness Network. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2021.