Hate Speech Online
Online hate speech threatens the values we seek to protect—namely, the protection of minors, the protection of users, the protection of human dignity, and diversity in the media.
One of our key tasks is to safeguard these values, which is why we are committed to raising awareness and finding effective ways to combat hate crimes on the internet.
What makes hate speech so dangerous for our society?
Hate speech is often excused with the phrase, “Surely we’re still allowed to say that!” And in doing so, people who promote their views online through hate and incitement invoke their right to freedom of speech.
Of course, this right applies to everyone: to those who spread hate as much as to those targeted by it. Hate speech becomes a threat to our society when one person's expression restricts another person's freedom of expression. Public debate suffers when people no longer dare to voice their opinions for fear of hostile reactions online, or when newsrooms avoid certain topics or disable comment sections because the tone of the debate has become too aggressive and toxic.
This is exactly where our efforts come in.
What can be done to combat hate speech?
Through regular surveys conducted by forsa, we monitor trends in both the prevalence and public perception of hate speech. A striking finding is that the issue is perceived as increasingly problematic with each passing year.
Different forms of hate speech require different responses. Hate speech that poisons public discourse must primarily be addressed by editorial teams, which need to take decisive action against abusive comments and help restore a civilised debate. To support this, we provide guidance and training materials.
Illegal hate speech, by contrast, must be removed by the platform or content provider. However, the individuals responsible are often unaware that their comments have violated the law. Through our initiative “Verfolgen statt nur Löschen”, which translates into “Prosecution Instead of Deletion”, the Media Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia therefore advocates not only for the removal of illegal content, but also for its administrative and criminal prosecution where appropriate.