"Europe is experiencing an alarming increase in hate speech and
hate crime and evidence shows that Jewish and Muslim communities
are particularly affected," the commission said in a statement.
The commission said it would increase spending on the protection
of places of worships by 30 million euros, including a rise of 5
million euros ($5.4 million) to address the threat of rising
antisemitism.
In the first two weeks since Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel,
Austria recorded a 300% increase in anti-Semitic incidents
compared to 2022, while the Netherlands saw a rise of 800% on
the previous monthly average, the Commission's vice-president
Margaritis Schinas told a press conference.
The Commission said it would push for stronger rules to counter
illegal hate speech online under a code of conduct signed with
online platforms, to be finalized in the next three months, in
addition to the stricter regulation for large online platforms
that has been introduced earlier this year in the Digital
Services Act (DSA).
The current code of conduct dates back to 2016, when Facebook,
Twitter, YouTube and Microsoft agreed to tackle online hate
speech within 24 hours in Europe. More platforms like Instagram,
TikTok or LinkedIn have joined it since.
Asked about specific actions under the DSA, the Commission's
vice-president Vera Jourova said it was collecting data and
evidence which might indicate that "some of the very large
online platforms are or might not be fully compliant with the
requirements."
"These platforms are now receiving letters with a concrete set
of questions stemming from our findings and observation of what
we see online," she added.
Any firm found in breach of the DSA faces a fine worth up to 6%
of its global turnover, and repeat offenders may be banned from
operating in Europe altogether.
The Commission said it would support training for journalists on
upholding media standards and recognizing hate speech, while
increasing support to fact checkers within the EU and the Arab
speaking world.
($1 = 0.9272 euros)
(Reporting by Piotr Lipinski, editing by Bart Meijer and
Christina Fincher)
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