Held on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the First Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime

Strasbourg, France, 30-31 January 2023


 


        
 

The rise of xenophobia and racism committed through computer systems has become a major concern for governments, civil society organizations, and the tech industry around the globe.

Online hate speech can fuel violence and discrimination, have a harmful and devastating impact on victims and communities, and undermine the values of inclusivity and respect.

Addressing xenophobia and racism committed through computer systems is an important part of efforts to counter these forms of violence and create a safer and more inclusive online and offline environment.

The First Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime, also known as the Protocol on Xenophobia and Racism, is an important step towards addressing these issues. It is an international treaty that aims to address the use of computer systems to commit crimes related to xenophobia and racism.

Overall, the First Additional Protocol in conjunction with the mechanisms of the Convention on Cybercrime and its Second Additional Protocol on enhanced co-operation and disclosure of electronic evidence provide a valuable toolkit for addressing the use of computer systems to commit crimes related to xenophobia and racism online, help to promote justice, guarantees human rights, protect the rights of victims and ensure justice and fairness in cyberspace.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the First Additional Protocol, and presents an opportunity to reflect on the progress made in addressing xenophobia and racism committed through computer systems, as well as the challenges that remain.

 Key Messages

Some 110 experts on cybercrime and hate speech from over 45 countries – including from public and private sectors, academia and civil society organisations – participated in person or online in the Conference on xenophobia and racism committed through computer systems at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France, and online from 30 to 31 January 2023.

The conference was held on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the first “Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime, concerning the criminalisation of acts of a racist and xenophobic nature committed through computer systems, ETS 189”, that was opened for signature on 28 January 2003.


 Consult the key messages of the International Conference on xenophobia and racism committed through computer systems

 

Details
Agenda overview

 Day 1 – 30 January 2023

  • Welcome and opening remarks
  • Setting the scene: "Phenomena and impact of online xenophobia and racism"
  • Good practices and challenges in implementing the First Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime
  • Hate speech vs freedom of expression: criteria and boundaries
  • Cooperative approaches to addressing online xenophobia and racism
  • Concluding remarks for the first day

 Day 2 – 31 January 2023

  • Criminal justice action: experience and challenges in the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of online xenophobia and racism 
  • Guidance to the implementation of the Protocol on Xenophobia and Racism
  • Conclusions of the Conference 

 Download the full agenda

Recordings

 

 

 

 


Recordings are now available:

 

 

Speakers
Xavier Leonetti
Xavier Leonetti Ministry of Justice, France
Urska Umek
Urska Umek Council of Europe
Upeksha Madukalpani Sapukotana
Upeksha Madukalpani Sapukotana Legal Draftsman's Department, Sri Lanka
Samia Elhamdaoui
Samia Elhamdaoui Magistrate at the Public Prosecutor's Office, Head of the Terrorism and Organized Crime Unit at the Presidency of the Public Ministry of the Kingdom of Morocco
Ragnhildur Arnljótsdóttir
Ragnhildur Arnljótsdóttir Icelandic Ambassador to the Council of Europe
Pedro Verdelho
Pedro Verdelho Chair of the Cybercrime Convention Committee, Portugal
Patrick Penninckx
Patrick Penninckx Director of Information Society Department, Council of Europe
Nick Bauer
Nick Bauer Head of Public Policy, Google
Menno Ettema
Menno Ettema Programme Manager, Council of Europe
Johan Friestedt
Johan Friestedt Executive Secretary, European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI)
Joanna Szymanska
Joanna Szymanska Senior Programme Officer, Article 19
Ireneusz Kondak
Ireneusz Kondak Senior Lawyer, Registry of the European Court of Human Rights
Hon. Elvira Tejada de la Fuente
Hon. Elvira Tejada de la Fuente General Prosecutor’s Office of Spain
Fernanda Teixeira Souza Domingos
Fernanda Teixeira Souza Domingos Federal Circuit Prosecutor, Federal Prosecution Service, Brazil
Emilar Gandhi
Emilar Gandhi Content Policy, META
Eirik Trønnes Hansen
Eirik Trønnes Hansen National Criminal Investigation Service, Norway
Chara Bakalis
Chara Bakalis Oxford Brookes University
Branislav Bohacik
Branislav Bohacik Prosecutor, General Prosecutor´s Office of the Slovak Republic
Anastasiia Ponarina
Anastasiia Ponarina Security Service of Ukraine
Ana Minevski
Ana Minevski Senior Adviser, CIRT, Montenegro
Alexander Seger
Alexander Seger Head of the Cybercrime Division, Council of Europe
Alexander Brown
Alexander Brown Expert / Author of the Good Practices Study / Associate Professor at the University of East Anglia
Presentations

 Day 1

Welcome and opening remarks

Setting the scene: “Phenomena and impact of online xenophobia and racism”

Good practices and challenges in implementing the First Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime

Hate speech vs freedom of expression: criteria and boundaries

  • Chara Bakalis, Oxford Brookes University – Legislating for online hate speech 
  • Urska Umek, Council of Europe
  • Ireneusz Kondak, European Court of Human Rights
  • Emilar Gandhi, META
  • Joanna Szymanska, Article 19

Cooperative approaches to addressing online xenophobia and racism

  • Nick Bauer, Google
  • Johan Friestedt, European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI)

Concluding remarks for the first day

 Day 2

Criminal justice action: experience and challenges in the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of online xenophobia and racism

Guidance to the implementation of the Protocol on Xenophobia and Racism

Conclusions of the conference



 

 Key messages