Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001875/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Eleonora Meleti (PPE)
We have recently seen a dramatic increase in the number of instances of hate speech on social media. Across Europe, more and more people – regardless of age or gender – are becoming victims of sexist, racist and abusive verbal attacks carried out in the name of ‘democracy and freedom of speech’. Unfortunately, hate speech has been on the rise in mass media and on social networks and become endemic in society. Verbal violence and abuse takes an immeasurable toll on the mental health and daily lives of its victims.
These acts are at odds with European culture and education, the principles of respect and dignity and the values of the EU. Given that verbal violence is starting to spiral out of control in all EU countries, can the Commission answer the following:
- 1.Does it intend to take immediate action and, if so, what measures will it take to combat hate speech in the digital world and to protect victims of verbal violence and their mental health?
- 2.How does it intend to follow up the initiative[1] to extend the list of EU crimes so that it finally includes hate speech?
Submitted: 30.9.2024
- [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52021DC0777