It is the end of a Citizens’ Panel unlike any other. A few weeks before the European elections, 150 citizens drawn from the 27 countries of the European Union submitted their recommendations on “How to tackle hatred in society?” to the European Commission. A complex subject that appeals to both small stories and big History. Summary.
“The essence of democratic debate is not always agreeing with each other but being able to talk about hatred without hatred,” said Anna Gallego-Torres, Director General of DG Justice, upon receiving the proposals from the youngest and oldest participants (just 16 and 78 years old).
The choice to address “hatred” was particularly courageous. More strongly than for other, more technical subjects, it quickly appealed to the emotions and the part of irrationality that is in each of us. It also brought out questions of identities, personal and family experiences, the weight of History and its heritage, and the social and political contexts specific to each country. Small stories and big History thus intertwined, and all these elements made the exchanges as complex as they were rich.
Over three weekends (from Friday to Sunday), the panelists identified the causes and drivers of hatred and developed recommendations. For this, they benefited from the input of experts (sociologists, linguists, psychologists, journalists, association actors, and Commission members working on these topics). “Without active efforts to address and heal these wounds (i.e., those of wars, etc.), the hatred fuelled by conflicts continues and threatens to perpetuate a cycle of hostility and division,” said the citizens in the preamble of their opinion. They also highlighted the responsibility of politicians and public figures in the spread of hate speech, exacerbated by the media and social networks.
Among their recommendations:
- A European card to ensure safe Internet navigation for children from the age of 8. With this card, children should acquire the skills necessary to navigate the Internet independently and safely.
- More independent media. Media should be required to work with independent fact-checking organizations and be transparent about their funding sources. The number of media outlets a person or company can own should be limited. Greater citizen participation in the media is also recommended to give more weight to their content and promote a shared culture of reciprocity and respect.
- Monitoring and prosecuting online hate speech. Internet anonymity should be regulated so that authors of hate speech can be better tracked and prosecuted by the competent authorities. The European Commission should create a working group to update and expand the common definition of “illegal hate speech.” Artificial intelligence should be used to curb the spread of hate speech on social networks. Platforms/operators must be required to adapt their algorithms to broadcast a broader spectrum of opinions.
- Code of conduct for MEPs. The Citizens’ Panel proposes setting up an independent committee of trust to develop a code of conduct for Members of the European Parliament and monitor hate speech and misinformation.
- European youth panels. In schools, organizing debates modelled on the Citizens’ Panels could help spread a culture of deliberation among the younger generation. For example, a debate on food in the school canteen, considering the habits of different religions, would be an opportunity to initiate discussions on specific topics that affect children daily, with students benefiting from the expertise of canteen staff and chefs. School twinning could allow exchanges at the European level. For 16–25-year-olds, European panels on hatred should be organized (same model as existing ones) on topics directly impacting them: online harassment, etc.
This Panel is part of the Commission’s #NoPlaceForHate campaign, which aims to intensify efforts to combat hatred in all its forms by strengthening action in various policy areas, including security, digital, education, culture, and sport. It was led by DG Justice and Consumers and DG Communication of the European Commission. A follow-up event is planned.
- To learn more about the Panels: European Citizens’ Panels
- The online participation platform: Ongoing Debates
- To learn more about project support: European Citizens’ Panel
