New Roma Rights Defenders Report Shows Europe How to Fight Hate Speech Online

26 November 2024

Brussels, 26 November 2024: In a new ERRC report, young Roma rights defenders sound the alarm about the volume of online hate content targeting Roma and spell out what needs to be done to combat, and ultimately shut down, online antigypsyism. They warn of the consequences when racial hatred goes unchecked, and urgently called on political leaders to “demonstrate more responsibility and accountability to prevent, sanction and counter any form of hate speech against Roma in both traditional and new forms of media.”

Working with the ERRC since 2020, volunteer digital activists in several countries set out to monitor and report online hate speech against Roma. The activists felt hate speech targeting Roma had been overlooked for too long, and shared a desire to do something about it, to devise practical and effective action to counter online hatred and its consequences.  

Voices Against Online Hate provides vivid accounts of how they mapped the most pervasive anti-Roma narratives, how they fared with submitting complaints to social media platforms, and how they compiled evidence for legal challenges against online hate speech. The report also gives voice to their profound and often startling insights about the impact of anti-Roma hate speech. As one volunteer recounted:

“I think the most dangerous thing about hate speech is when multiple people begin to identify with or even support calling to harm others – either physically or mentally – and such actions can then ‘inspire’ others to act illegally. The most disturbing content that I encountered in my monitoring was the complete dehumanisation, calls for the elimination of even children, and the encouragement of such views.”

Many of the activists were taken aback at how widespread and how acceptable was anti-Roma hatred, even among political leaders. One activist from Slovakia was surprised by “the kinds of ‘breeding places’ where a plethora of hate accumulates. Very often, hateful comments were not found under explicitly racist contents”. As many of the volunteers found, hatred frequently lurks in unsuspecting places, often on accounts posing as fun-filled, humorous, and animal-loving online spaces. 

The activists pointed out that while much hateful speech may fall short of direct and imminent incitement to violence, the cumulative impact of the daily algorithm feed of posts, memes and reels that stereotype Roma, but pose as “harmless fun” poses a real danger. It undermines any sense of empathy and solidarity with Roma, and tacitly allows the extreme to become mainstream. 

Many felt empowered by their actions, and they got a sense that from here on, hate would not go unpunished. They were enthusiastic about the pro-active, anti-racist, and innovative aspects of their campaigns which combined legal challenges with broad-based civic actions. As Maja put it “reacting in as many ways as possible is better, because the seriousness of hate speech needs to be more fully understood, and that there should be ‘zero tolerance’ for violence and racism.”

In terms of sustainable solutions, the activists stressed the need for continued campaigning against all forms of racism and violence, and engagement in vigorous public debate and discussion. In the longer-term, they call for education for critical digital literacy to cultivate what one activist described as ‘forethoughtfulness’ among young people in an age of instant responses and coordinated hate. They stress that in order to isolate hate speech, greater investment is required in the kind of education that is explicitly anti-racist and fosters civic responsibility to bolster youngsters’ capacity for empathy and solidarity. 

The activists insist that this is not a “Roma issue” but a societal one, and called on political leaders, tech companies, and media platforms to remedy the damage done, to demonstrate more responsibility and accountability to counter and prevent online hate against Roma. They call for urgent dialogue between activists, experts, and policymakers that will lead to direct action to combat digital antigypsyism in a strategic, collaborative and effective manner. 

The report, Voices Against Online Hate: Roma Rights Defenders in their Own Words is available to download here.

For more information, or to arrange an interview contact:

Jonathan Lee
Advocacy & Communications Director
European Roma Rights Centre
jonathan.lee@errc.org
+32 49 288 7679