COUNTERING HATE SPEECH IN THE MEDIA: CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS
Keywords:
hate speech, pyramid of hate, discriminatory narrative, mediaAbstract
Daily, explicit or implicit exposure to violence in the media fosters real-life violence, shaping attitudes, values, and behavior over time. This paper aims to highlight the existence and key drivers of hate speech, identify the most frequently targeted groups, and emphasize the urgent need for decisive action against all forms of discriminatory narratives and hate crimes before they become deeply rooted in society. The lack of preventive measures against hate speech and hate crimes creates fertile ground for undermining peace efforts and fueling new tensions and conflicts. The digitalization of media and the widespread use of social networks, often marked by diminished credibility and unclear legislative and ethical guidelines, have accelerated the spread of hate speech, fostering an environment of fear, division, and exclusion. In this context, efforts to create a safer digital space should be understood as a fundamental necessity rather than a privilege. Achieving tangible progress requires two key actions: the coordinated enhancement of media and user capacities to recognize hate speech and the legal and ethical regulation of the media space to prevent the dissemination of harmful content.
References
ADL. 2018. Nota adaptada de Pyramids of hate (Figure), por Anti-Defamation League. Available at: https://www.adl.org/sites/default/files/documents/pyramid-of-hate.pdf (Accessed date: February 28, 2025).
Antić, P. (2023). Sanctioning hate speech on the internet: in search of the best approach. Pravni zapisi, 14(1), 74-100. https://doi.org/10.5937/pravzap1-43118
Beogradski centar za ljudska prava. (2021). Ljudska prava u Srbiji 2020 – pravo, praksa i međunarodni standardi ljudskih prava.
Bukar, A.A., Mohammed, S, Zannah, M. (2021). Conceptual discourse on hate speech and fake news in Nigeria’s public sphere: some implications for national security. Annual African Council for Communication Education (ACCE) Conference, Faculty of Communication, Bayero University, Kano, 25–28.05.2021.
Centar za profesionlizaciju medija i medijsku pismenost - CEPROM (2024). Kako smo od poželjno negativnog stigli do obavezno agresivnog. (28/12/2024). Available at: https://www.ceprom.rs/2024/12/28/kako-smo-od-pozeljno-negativnog-stigli-do-obavezno -agresivnog/ (Accessed date: March 1, 2025)
Council of Europe (1997). Recommendation No. R (97) 20 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on “hate speech” adopted on 30 October 1997
Council of Europe. (2022). Combating hate speech. Available at: https://rm.coe.int/prems-083822-gbr-2018-recommendation-on-combating-hate-speech-memorand/1680a710c9 (Accessed date: December 25, 2024).
Dagen, T. (2022). Legal challenges of the Croatian legislature with regard to the hate speech and committing certain criminal offenses. Zbornik radova Pravnog fakulteta u Novom Sadu, 56(3), 927-946.
https://doi.org/10.5937/zrpfns56-40442
Gujaničić, D. (2023). Jedinstveni slučaj Julijusa Štrajhera – prvo međunarodno suđenje u istoriji za govor mržnje. Politička revija, 78(4), 51-69. https://doi.org/10.5937/pr78-45978
Jovanović, I., & Anđušić, A. (2022). Monitoring report on hate speech in Serbia. Media Diversity Institute and Media Diversity Institute Western Balkans. Available at: https://www.reportingdiversity.org/wp-content/ uploads/2022/07/MRHS_Serbia.pdf (Accessed date: March 1, 2025)
Knol Radoja, K., Bodul, D. (2022). Kako zaustaviti plasiranje neistinitih informacija i govor mržnje na internetu? Zbornik radova Pravnog fakulteta u Nišu, 61(95), 135-151. https://doi.org/10.5937/zrpfn1-40003
KnowledgeFlow. (2024). 5 Positive strategies to counter hate speech online. Available at:
https://knowledgeflow.org/5-ways-you-can-help-counter-hate-speech-online/ (Accessed date: March 7, 2025)
Kovačević, M. (2023). Sprečavanje govora mržnje u praksi Evropskog suda za ljudska prava. Megatrend revija, 20(2), 79-92. https://doi.org/10.5937/MegRev2302079K
Krstić, I. (2020). Izveštaj o upotrebi govora mržnje u medijima u Srbiji. Available at: https://rm.coe.int/hf25-hate-speech-serbian-media-srp/1680a2278f (Accessed date: January 31, 2025)
Krstić, I. (2024). Prisutnost govora mržnje u medijima u Srbiji. Savet Evrope. Available at: https://rm.coe.int/3-prisutnost-govora-mrznje-u-medijima-u-srbiji-2024/1680b3d563 (Accessed date: March 6, 2025)
Official Herald of the Republic of Serbia, Nos. 98/2006 and 115/2021, 46.Constitution of the Republic of Serbia.
Pukallus, S., & Arthur, C. (2024). Combating Hate Speech on Social Media: Applying Targeted Regulation, Developing Civil-Communicative Skills and Utilising Local Evidence-Based Anti-Hate Speech Interventions. Journalism and Media, 5(2), 467-484. https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5020031
Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)4 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the protection of journalism and safety of journalists and other media actors (Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 13 April 2016
at the 1253rd meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies)
Ristivojević, B. (2008). Granica između slobode govora i dostojanstva društvenih skupina u odabranim evropskim krivičnim pravima – govor mržnje. Zbornik radova Pravnog fakulteta u Novom Sadu, 42(3), 211-246.
Rodriguez Martinez, P., Martinez Joya, L., & Villegas Lirola, F. (2024). Hate-Speech Countering by Immigrant and Pro-Immigrant Associations in Almeria (Spain). Social Sciences, 13(1), 33.
https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13010033
United Nations (2023). Hate Speech – Inpact and prevention. Available at: https://www.un.org/en/hate-speech/ impact-and-prevention/why-tackle-hate-speech (Accessed date: March 4, 2025)
Živanovski, N. (2014). Različit tretman govora mržnje u procesima komunikacije u Evropi i SAD. CM – časopis za upravljanje komunikacijama, 9(32), 57-68. https://doi.org/10.5937/comman1432057Z
