PoliticsandPolicyCombatingAntisemitisminthe European
UnionanditsMemberStates
PrimaryInvestigator:Dr.CarolynDudek
HUHCResearchAssistant:LeahShalonov DepartmentofPoliticalScience
Highlighted EU Policy
❖ Digital Service Act – DSA - oversight at the EU and national level to detect hate speech with a goal to make a safer internet for users. Less than 45 million users monthly the study of the algorithm would be shared with the Digital Service Coordinator (national level). More than 45 million users (VLOPS). Process has vetted researches, trusted flaggers, trusted monitors, trusted partners. Code of conduct on countering illegal speech online published under the DSA article 45. Geo blocking in one state rather than the whole EU, making regulations country specific. DSA still has many problems of being ineffective and country specific.
Highlighted InterviewTranscripts
France
❖ UEJF- French Jewish Student Union:Activist group, purpose is to fight both antisemitism and racism especially on social media. Flagging content and ultimately took large platforms to court.
❖ UNESCO –sought to develop a program to address contemporary forms of antisemitism (anti- Israel bias).Work with policymakers to create strategies and train teachers on how to address antisemitism in schools.
Germany
❖ Public Prosecutor Central Antisemitism Commissioner of the Bavarian Judiciary – specific prosecutor for antisemitism in every German region, penalty is higher for hate motivated crimes. Free speech vs. hate speech. Many Jewish people don’t report antisemitic crimes. Initiatives with social media companies: screenshot hate comments and insert in a shared cloud.
NGO’s Addressing Extremism
❖ ISD – Institute for Strategic Dialogue- Biggest challenges in uncovering online antisemitism is accessing backends of social media platforms. Coded forms of antisemitism hard to uncover. In some cases, individuals report illegal content, but nothing happens. Legal framework of what Is legal vs illegal speech is also difficult to navigate.
My Research with the ADL: Examining University Antisemitism Policy
o Is antisemitism mentioned in the university’s code of conduct?
o Advisory council to address antisemitism?
o TitleVI Office/Coordinator?
o Hillel Campus Climate Initiative?
o Conducts surveys to assess Jewish student experience?
o Interfaith initiatives?
o Religious accommodations policy?
o Civil discourse initiatives on campus?
