Leiden University Scholarly Publications

Persistent URL of this record https://hdl.handle.net/1887/4252655

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Nave, E.V.R. (2025)

Countering online hate speech: how to adequately protect fundamental rights?

Doctoral Thesis
Today, almost 5 billion people communicate through social media online platforms. Easy access, large audience sizes, anonymity, and instantaneous publication of content all contribute to expeditious information spread and suggest new tools for large-scale influence. The benefits of online communication are undeniable. Concomitantly, we witness the proliferation of hate speech on online platforms, already linked in certain cases with an increase in offline violence. Online platforms have developed self-regulatory polices to counter hate speech which often remain opaque, lack democratic enforcement and remedy mechanisms.
This thesis builds on a critical conceptualization of online hate speech deriving from the European regulatory and policy framework, to investigate and propose legal avenues for the strengthening of the responsibilities of online platforms to counter online hate speech whilst upholding fundamental rights. More specifically, this thesis seeks to: 1) advance the...Show moreToday, almost 5 billion people communicate through social media online platforms. Easy access, large audience sizes, anonymity, and instantaneous publication of content all contribute to expeditious information spread and suggest new tools for large-scale influence. The benefits of online communication are undeniable. Concomitantly, we witness the proliferation of hate speech on online platforms, already linked in certain cases with an increase in offline violence. Online platforms have developed self-regulatory polices to counter hate speech which often remain opaque, lack democratic enforcement and remedy mechanisms.
This thesis builds on a critical conceptualization of online hate speech deriving from the European regulatory and policy framework, to investigate and propose legal avenues for the strengthening of the responsibilities of online platforms to counter online hate speech whilst upholding fundamental rights. More specifically, this thesis seeks to: 1) advance the legal conceptualization of hate speech; 2) systematize legal responsibilities of online platforms when regulating hate speech; 3) propose and evaluate, from a human rights perspective, new mitigation and enforcement designs; and, 4) study remedy mechanisms compliant with human rights law. This thesis aims to strengthen the corporate responsibilities of online platforms to countering online hate speech in a human rights compliant manner.
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Online hate speech
Historical oppression
Social media online platforms
Platform governance
Governance of artificial intelligence
Content regulation
Human rights due diligence
End-to-end encryption
Law and digital technologies
All authors
Nave, E.V.R.
Supervisor
Hof, S. van der; McGonagle, T.E.
Committee
Custers, B.H.M.; Noorloos, L.A. van; Lahmann, H.C.; Temperman, J.D.; Suzor, N.
Qualification
Doctor (dr.)
Awarding Institution
Institute for the Interdisciplinary Study of the Law, Faculty of Law, Leiden University
Date
2025-07-03
Title of host publication
Meijers-reeks
ISBN (print)
9789464738322
DOI
doi:10.60602/1887-4252655

Publication Series

Name
MI-450

Funding

Sponsorship
European Union’s Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Innovative Training Network (MSCA-ITN) Grant Agreement No 861047