Hate Speech Crimes Research Articles

Between neo-militant and quasi-militant democracy: restrictions on freedoms of speech and the press in Austria, Finland, and Sweden 2008–2019

ABSTRACT After the economic collapse in 2008, we observed rapid changes among media markets, digital transformation of information, and the increasing role of social networks in communication, anti-democratic forces use the freedom of speech and the press to share illiberal rhetoric. Considering these phenomena, this study aims to verify how ruling elites use militant democracy means in consolidated democracies to combat anti-democrats by restricting citizens’ fundamental freedoms to express their thoughts and beliefs. The main argument is that different threats for the freedom of speech and the press have occurred in a consolidated democracy: abusing regulations about hate speech crimes and public incitement to hatred, political interventions in the media system, violating relations between the media market and political system, favouring public media and avoiding using restrictions against them. The scope of those threats is different, resulting from using neo-militant instruments or replacing them with quasi-militant democracy means. The methods employed for the analysis are the qualitative analysis of sources and the quantitative analysis of data in the comparative perspective. Austria, Finland, and Sweden – three EU member states recognised as consolidated democracies, with a democratic corporatist model of media systems – were selected for the study.

Responsibility for crimes of “hate speech”, as defined in art. 256 § 1 and 257 of the polish penal code – selected normative and practical problems

The definitions of hate speech crimes in the provisions of Art. 256 § 1 and 257 of the Polish Penal Code appear to be not easy to interpret and challenging to apply. Considering the specificity of the behaviour prohibited by the regulations mentioned above, greater precision of definitions seems challenging to obtain. That raises the need for a cautious assessment of the behaviour that raises doubts. Not every act of hate speech may be considered a crime, but any suspicion of a crime must be the subject of scrupulous examination by state authorities. The passivity of state organs may be perceived as “silent consent”. Failure to react to hateful words can encourage hateful acts of physical violence.

Peranan Kepolisian Resor Tebing Tinggi Dalam Penegakan Hukum Terhadap Tindak Pidana Ujaran Kebencian Di Media Sosial

The presence of such sophisticated information technology has given a new nuance by touching almost all aspects of life. Technology has made it easy for people to carry out daily activities to meet their needs, as well as facilitate interaction between human beings wherever they are. This research is a normative juridical research that uses a literature study and field study approach. The data collection tool used in this study used the interview method. Interviews were conducted on informants or investigators at the Tebing Tinggi Resort Police. Data analysis was carried out qualitatively. The results of the study indicate that the role of the police in law enforcement against hate speech crimes on social media as regulated in Law no. 19 of 2016 concerning Amendments to Law No. 11 of 2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions (UU ITE) and Law no. 2 of 2002 concerning the Indonesian National Police. The role of the police includes receiving reports or complaints about the occurrence of an event that is reasonably suspected of being a criminal act; it is obliged to immediately carry out the necessary investigative actions; As an investigator who knows, receives a report or complaint about the occurrence of an event that is reasonably suspected to be a criminal act, he is obliged to immediately carry out the necessary investigative actions and find and collect evidence so that the case becomes clear so that the suspect can be found.

Strategies in Countering Hoax and Hate Speech in Indonesia

Hoax and Hate Speech are cyber-crimes that are closely related to ideological, political and religious issues. In Indonesia, just before the 2019 Presidential Election, this crime is very common, mainly used to attack political opponents. In this study, we provide several samples of Hoax and Hate Speech crimes, namely those with ideological, political and religious nuances. We consider these three crime samples to be sufficient to illustrate that Hoax and Hate Speech greatly influence the stability of domestic security. Based on the results of research conducted at the Directorate of Cyber Crime Enforcement of the Indonesian Police Criminal Investigation Agency, we can conclude that the strategic steps that must be taken to tackle Hoax and Hate Speech are Preventive Efforts in the form of Cyber Patrol, Hoax labeling, analyzing media opinion trends, dissemination positive news through text media, clarification and public information, security carried out by cover names, cover jobs, and cover stories, and countermeasures. Then, to provide a deterrent effect to the community, repressive efforts through law enforcement activities must be carried out including investigations by means of the Cyber Patrol to find cyber-crime, providing technical assistance and tactical investigations, investigating units in the region in order to uncover networks of cyber perpetrators, providing assistance in examining digital evidence, and cooperating by exchanging information for the purpose of researching and investigating cyber-crime. With the coping methods described above, especially inter-regional police cooperation that is centrally controlled by maximizing technology, the Indonesian police are able to uncover and dismantle networks of cyber-crime perpetrators that occur in Indonesia such as hoaxes, hate speeches and terrorism.

The challenge of hate speech online

Real-world hate speech crimes are defined by reference to the special attributes of the victim. A thought experiment about hate speech in virtual worlds indicates that this approach to the criminalisation of hate speech may not be sustainable.