Europe faces ‘alarming’ rise in hate speech threatening democracy, Council of Europe warns

Europe is facing “alarming levels” of hate speech that are increasingly being normalised in political debate, online spaces, and everyday life, according to a new annual report published on Thursday by the Council of Europe’s anti-racism body, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI).

The report warns that racist, anti-LGBTI and other forms of hate speech are not only harming individuals and targeted communities but also weakening democratic institutions across the continent by fuelling exclusion, fear and, in some cases, hate-motivated violence.

ECRI, an independent monitoring body within the Council of Europe, said it has observed a “growing trivialisation” of hate speech in many member states.

Xenophobic rhetoric, it noted, is becoming more widespread, including in political debates linked to stricter immigration policies.

Ethnic or national origin remains the most common target of hate speech, followed by religion, citizenship, sexual orientation and gender identity.

The report highlighted persistent and severe targeting of Roma communities, often framed through narratives portraying them as threats to public security or health.

It also recorded continued high levels of antisemitic and anti-Muslim hate speech, which have intensified in the broader geopolitical context following the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza.

The ECRI further noted that transgender people remain particularly exposed to LGBTI-phobic abuse, while xenophobic discourse frequently overlaps with anti-Black racism, especially online and in sports environments.

Foreign nationals, LGBTI people, Roma and Muslim communities were identified as primary targets of political hate speech, often amplified during election periods through negative stereotyping and misinformation.

The report also flagged growing concern about disinformation campaigns originating from abroad.

“Hate speech targets not only individual people but society as a whole,” ECRI Chair Bertil Cottier said.

“When people are made to feel unsafe because of who they are, or are perceived to be, they may feel excluded and withdraw from public life. That is why hate speech harms not only victims and affected communities but also democracy itself,” she said.

Cottier called on political leaders, public officials and technology platforms to take greater responsibility in rejecting hateful discourse and promoting inclusive narratives.

The ECRI urged political parties to strengthen self-regulation against hate speech, including by adhering to the Charter of European political parties for a non-racist and inclusive society.

It also encouraged the promotion of “counter-speech” initiatives that actively challenge harmful narratives.

The report placed particular emphasis on the growing challenge of tackling online hate speech, which spreads rapidly through social media and messaging platforms.

The use of anonymous accounts and automated bots, it warned, continues to complicate investigations and enforcement.

While acknowledging the potential of artificial intelligence in detecting harmful content, ECRI stressed that technology alone is insufficient.

“AI holds real promise for detecting and managing hateful content online, but its use must go hand in hand with strong human oversight and clear channels for reporting online hate speech, including through ‘trusted flaggers’, to ensure that governments and internet intermediaries can act effectively,” Cottier said.

The report also highlighted persistent gaps in national policies, noting that some groups, particularly Roma and Muslim communities, are often insufficiently included in hate speech prevention strategies.

ECRI said this is partly due to political disincentives, as defending these groups may be seen as electorally unpopular in some contexts.

Low levels of trust in law enforcement among affected communities are also contributing to significant underreporting of hate speech incidents, the report added.

Another worrying trend is the increasing targeting of individuals and organisations who speak out against racism and LGBTI-phobic hate speech.

MPs, civil society activists and judges have reportedly faced threats, including death threats, creating what ECRI described as a “chilling effect” on public discourse and civic engagement.

ECRI warned that hate speech is also having a growing impact on children and young people, both as victims and perpetrators, particularly in online environments.

Divisive narratives are increasingly spreading in schools, while teachers often lack sufficient training to address them effectively, the report said.

The report called for stronger investment in human rights education and media literacy to help young people identify and resist racist and intolerant content.

The ECRI pointed to the forthcoming New Democratic Pact for Europe, an initiative of the Council of Europe aimed at strengthening democratic resilience across member states.

The body said this initiative offers an opportunity to reinforce anti-hate principles and build on existing human rights standards.

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