In order to better tackle hate speech in times of crisis, legal frameworks should be amended, law enforcement measures reinforced, collaboration between media, national human rights institutions and equality bodies strengthened, and support to those targeted by hate speech prioritised. These are among key recommendations provided to Council of Europe member states by the Steering Committee on Anti-Discrimination, Diversity and Inclusion (CDADI) in their new study published today.
The study analyses the phenomenon of hate speech in Europe during the crises of the last few years, including the Covid-19 pandemic and the full-scale military aggression of Russia against Ukraine in February 2022, the responses from the state authorities and other actors; it outlines deficiencies of such responses and gives recommendations on addressing them. The selected focus countries of the study are Albania, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Romania, the Slovak Republic, and the United Kingdom.
Crises can intensify hate speech targeting specific individuals/groups deemed responsible for them, and also be aggravated by this speech. Hate speech in times of crisis may build on existing discriminatory or hate narratives, but also trigger and multiply new narratives.
The Covid-19 pandemic accompanied by the "infodemic" (excessive amounts of information on the health crisis, including false and misleading information), has seen a huge increase of hate speech against individuals and groups (such as Chinese and people of Asian descent, migrants and refugees, national minorities); revamped antisemitism (via conspiracy theories) and intertwined hateful narratives. Roma and Travellers in several European countries have also been particularly affected.
The full-scale military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine in February 2022 has fostered violent, dehumanising rhetoric and hate speech in individual countries and across Europe, opposing the Russian Federation and "The West" and disseminating hatred against Ukraine, Ukrainian nationals, and refugees from Ukraine through disinformation campaigns. Nationalistic hate speech has triggered and is fuelling the conflict, and its circulation also represents a challenge to the media sector and to internet intermediaries, which are asked to disentangle hateful narratives and provide the public with objective information about the Russian Federation's aggression. At the same time, the war of aggression against Ukraine has also had a negative impact on communities using Russian as their main language, including outside of Ukraine and the Russian Federation.
Migrants and refugees remain one of the major targets of hate speech across the continent. Terrorist attacks in various places in Europe have fuelled xenophobic feelings. Hatred against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) persons - and in particular against transgender people - is on the rise all over Europe, which calls for effective institutional interventions to prevent and combat LGBTI-phobia at all levels. Major crises traditionally fuel antisemitic hate speech.
Challenges in addressing hate speech during crises are numerous: distinguishing free speech from hate speech, difficult access to data on online hate speech, limited resources, need for enhanced education and training, to name a few.
Much has already been done - by various actors and at various levels - such as the implementation of legal measures to combat hate speech, coordinated campaigns online and offline by law enforcement and networks of stakeholders, education and counter-speech initiatives and some actions in support of those targeted by hate speech.
However, much remains to be done. It should be recognised that it can be difficult to amend legal frameworks or make quick substantial policy or practical changes in times of crisis, the authors of the report stress. Therefore, it is essential to take steps to prepare good conditions of social cohesion in ordinary times to ensure a greater level of resilience to discriminatory and hateful speech in times of crisis.
