“Hate speech and fake news are on rise in Europe, particularly on the internet and social media, and have a detrimental, paralising effect on working conditions and effectiveness of local and regional elected representatives and by extent on local and regional democracy as a whole”, stated Congress Rapporteur Kristoffer Tamsons (Sweden, EPP/CCE) at the opening of the conference “Hate Speech and Fake News – Fate or Issue to Tackle?” held in the framework of CEE e|Dem and e|Gov Days 2022 in Budapest, on 22-23 September 2022.
Mr. Tamsons presented the draft report on “Impact of hate speech and fake news on the working conditions of local and regional elected representatives” which will be debated for adoption at the 43rd Session of the Congress, on 25 October 2022.
He underlined the absolute need to provide an adequate legal and regulatory framework at the national level to counter online and offline threats, while ensuring the balance between freedom of expression and the limitations that can or must be apply to freedom of expression. The aim of the report is to analyse the impact of hate speech and fake news on local democracy and to propose responses, at local, regional and national levels, in line with relevant European standards and best practices.
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