Hate speech online: Belgian CSA calls for new legal duties concerning social networks and online platforms
Summary
Building on the trend observed in several European countries, such as Germany and France, the Conseil supérieur de laudiovisuel de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles (CSA) released a guidance note on 5 February 2020, which encourages the legislator of the French-speaking Community of Belgium to take concrete measures against online hate speech. In the CSAs view, the current liability of online platforms is too limited given the important role they play in spreading hate speech among young people. While video-sharing-platforms are included in the scope of (audiovisual) regulation through the revised AVMSD, this is not the case for social media, forums and posts. Considering that the exposure of young people to hate speech on online platforms and social media is increasing and that the current legal framework does not allow efficient responses, the Belgian CSA calls for the Federation Wallonie-Bruxelles to introduce new co-regulatory measures, which could ultimately give an impulse to a future European legal framework. This guidance note echoes the NetzDG law in Germany and the draft law on online hate in France (Proposition de loi “Avia” visant à lutter contre la haine sur internet) currently under debate in the French Parliament.