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.PT Legal & Corporate Affairs
14-02-2025
Code of conduct+: illegal hate speech
On January 20, 2025, The Code of conduct on countering illegal hate speech online +, also referred to as the "Code of Conduct+,” was signed between the European Commission and various online platforms. Its purpose is to prevent and remove any type of content related to illegal hate speech on these platforms.

This new Code of Conduct, which builds on the Code of Conduct adopted in 2016, has been integrated into the Digital Services Act (DSA) package. It seeks to ensure that signatories commit—beyond their existing legal obligations—to moderating illegal content on their platforms in accordance with European Union (EU) law and the legislation of Member States. The Code of Conduct+ currently has 12 signatories: Dailymotion, Facebook, Instagram, Jeuxvideo.com, LinkedIn, consumer services hosted by Microsoft, Snapchat, Rakuten Viber, TikTok, Twitch, X, and YouTube. Other online platforms designated under the DSA can also join the Code of Conduct+ to demonstrate compliance with this Regulation.

The aim of this new Code of Conduct is to align and facilitate compliance with the standards imposed by the DSA, following the criteria established in this framework for the creation of codes of conduct. This includes, for example, the need for additional reporting beyond what is already legally required, thereby increasing transparency regarding the measures implemented by online platforms.

Four commitments made by the signatories of the Code of Conduct+ are highlighted:
  1. Increasing transparency regarding measures aimed at reducing the prevalence of hate speech on their services, particularly through the use of automatic detection tools;
  2. Providing information as part of their transparency reporting, including the outcomes of measures taken and additional data related to hate speech on their platforms;
  3. Presenting national-level data disaggregated by internal classification of hate speech (such as race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation) and ensuring proper follow-up on contributions from multilateral cooperation efforts;
  4. Participating in structured multilateral cooperation with experts and civil society organizations that can identify trends and developments in hate speech and raise user awareness on these issues.
To achieve these objectives, both the Commission and the European Digital Services Committee will monitor and evaluate the compliance of online platform signatories with their commitments, promoting periodic reviews and updates based on initial recommendations.

These initiatives demonstrate the EU's ongoing commitment to fostering a safer and more responsible digital environment, addressing the challenges posed by hate speech on online platforms.



Please note: the articles on this blog may not convey the opinion of .PT, but of its author.
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