Online hate speech has become a steadily growing problem in the past few years. In Christian Social People’s Party deputy Françoise Kemp’s parliamentary question, she states that online hate speech affects society as well as political debates. She requested a report from the Minister of Justice Elisabeth Margue and Minister of Equality Yuriko Backes.
The website Bee Secure Stopline enables everyone to report illegal content on the internet. 450 racist and discriminatory cases were reported last year, and almost 60% of those were handed over to the responsible authorities. In the terrorism sector, 130 cases were reported, 70% of them were followed by further investigation. The number of reports of sexual abuse of minors which can also be alerted via the stop line was not mentioned.
The numerical difference between reported cases and transferred cases is due to the reported content already having been removed, or it might not have met the relevant criteria. Nevertheless, there was a noticeable surge in numbers from 2023 to 2024.
The number of complaints filed for suspicion of criminal offence have decreased since 2020. In 2020, 160 complaints were raised, and in 2021, 168 complaints were filed. The clear downward tendency was confirmed by only having 100 cases in 2023, and 45 cases in 2024. Verdicts in that category are rare. Since 2020, one person was sentenced by the court in Diekirch. The district court in Luxembourg City has sentenced 19 people in total, seven were arrested in 2023 and eight in 2024. In the last four years, 93 cases were negotiated.
In the ministers’ answer to MP Kemp’s question, they pointed out that the prosecutor’s office could also suggest alternative measures, such as the reminder of the law or an invitation to participate in an appropriately-themed seminar.
