SafeNet Project Final Conference in Brussels Explored Trends and

SafeNet Project Final Conference in Brussels Explored Trends and

Developments in Online Hate Speech

 

On November 6, 2024, the SafeNet consortium hosted its final project conference at the Albert Borschette Conference Center in Brussels and online. The event brought together civil society organizations (CSOs), IT companies, EU and national authorities and international bodies to explore the latest trends and developments in online hate speech.

Key findings from the SafeNet project were presented, including:

  • Analysis of general hate speech drivers and specific insights from social media platforms across different countries.
  • Data on hate speech removal rates and response times.
  • Common challenges identified through monitoring activities.

During the Q&A and networking sessions, participants emphasized the importance of continuous monitoring for effective advocacy and successful implementation of the Digital Services Act (DSA) and EU strategic initiatives. A cross-sectoral approach was recognized as essential to reducing online hate speech.

Over the past 18 months, the SafeNet consortium, consisting of 21 CSOs from 19 EU countries has monitored and documented over 19,000 hate speech cases across 19 European languages and English.

Presentations and videos from the conference are available below and shared by the consortium partners.

The project, titled “SafeNet: Monitoring and Reporting for Safer Online Environments” was funded by the European Union.