The European Commission announced that major tech companies—including Meta’s Facebook, Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter), and Google’s YouTube—have committed to intensifying their efforts against online hate speech. This initiative is part of an updated code of conduct now integrated into the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA).
The revised code, originally established in May 2016, has been strengthened to require these platforms to:
- Collaborate with not-for-profit or public entities possessing expertise in illegal hate speech to monitor and review hate speech reports.
- Assess at least two-thirds of hate speech notifications within 24 hours of receipt.
- Implement automated detection tools to proactively identify and reduce hate speech on their platforms.
- Provide transparency regarding the role of recommendation systems and the reach of illegal content before its removal.
- Offer detailed, country-specific data on hate speech incidents, categorized by factors such as race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
EU Tech Commissioner Henna Virkkunen emphasized the importance of this commitment, stating, “In Europe, there is no place for illegal hate, either offline or online.”
While this code is voluntary, compliance is expected to influence how regulators enforce the DSA. Notably, in 2022, Elon Musk withdrew X from a related code, highlighting the non-binding nature of these commitments.
The European Commission’s move underscores its dedication to ensuring a safer online environment and upholding democratic values across the EU.
