News item | 16-06-2025 | 13:54
Together with coordinators and special envoys from other countries, the National Coordinator of Anti -Semitism calls for the removal of anti -Semitic content on social media platforms. “The figures are shocking and the number of incidents is increasing. Social media companies must now take action.”
A report from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) from 2024 shows that no less than 90% of the Jews online have encountered anti -Semitic content in the previous year. In addition, 55% of them came into contact online with inciting violence. With their brand letter, the anti -Semitism fighters therefore focus on the companies behind the world’s largest social media companies: Meta (Instagram, Facebook and Threads), Bytedance (Tiktok), YouTube LLC (YouTube) and X Corp. (X).
“These companies must realize that online anti -Semitism has consequences in the offline world and can lead to discrimination and violence against Jews,” says Eddo Verdoner, National Coordinator of Anti -Semitism (NCAB) and initiator of the Brand letter. “The figures are now being shook up.”
In the fire letter, the National Coordinators and Special Environments identify various risks, such as the operation of algorithms, which place increasingly extreme anti -Semitic content on the timelines of users. The dangers of AI systems that base themselves on existing anti-Semitic prejudices and thereby strengthen them, the so-called ‘Confirmation Bias’, are also discussed. They therefore call for, among other things, to appoint enough experts who can assess anti -Semitic content, to stricter content modiation on social media and more transparency about, for example, the extent to which anti -Semitism appears on platforms.
Verdoner calls for decisive action: “” Social media companies still have major steps to take. We strongly call on them to ensure that there is no place for anti -Semitism on their platforms. “
The full text of the letter (English) and the names of the senders can be found here:
We are Special Envoys, Coordinators, and Commissioners Responsible for Monitoring and Combating Antisemitism. Appointed by Governments and International Organizations, We Dedicate Our Efforts to Counter Anti -Semitism in Our Own Countries, Regions, and Around the World. We Write To You Out Of Grave Concern About The Spread of Anti -Semitism On Your Platforms.
Anti -Semitism is on the rise, Both in the online and offline world. IT is Crucial That Online Platforms Take Their Responsibility in Ensuring A Safe Online Space. Anti -Semitism Online HAS Real World Consquences and Can Lead to Radicalization and Violence. Accordance to a survey published by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) in 2024, 55% of Jews had Encountered Online Incitement of Violence Against Jews in the Previous Year. These Shocking Numbers Prove That It Is Of The Utmost Importance That Online Platforms Take Immediate Action to Combat Online Anti -Semitism.
We would like to highlight a few areas or particular group. FirstLY, We are worried about Algorithms that allow for the continuous affirmation of posts containing harmful content such as holocaust denial and violence against jews. In particular, we believe online platforms should be extremely alert about the potential negative consequences of ai due to its tendency to absorb and amplify biases. Secondly, we alert you to the fact that anti -Semitism can be hard to identify due to its many forms. Therefore, it is important that online platforms have the appropriate expertise to identify anti -Semitism, and stay informed on evolving trends. Lastly, we are deeply concerned that hate speech, such as anti -semitism, is not sufficiently modernated due to overreliance on ai, community notes, and decreased measures.
The European Union (EU) has made great strides with the regulation of online hate speech through the digital services act (DSA), and the revised code of conduct on countering illegal hate speech online. We urge for the immediate and full implementation of the dsa and the code of conduct within the eu and for the implementation of the same action and values outside of it, spray anti -semitism knows no borders.
Therefore, we urge you to ensure that anti -Semitism has no place on your platforms by Finding Solutions and Taking Concrete Measures, Including:
Make Sure Content Moderation is Effective, in Line with the Laws in the Territories of the Respect Signatories Such as the DSA. Moderation must always be supported by human review.
Adhere to legal mandated compliance standards related to hate speech and relevant laws in the country and regions in which you operate.
Use effective Measures to promptly remove harmful content that promotes hate and violence against jews and others.
Increase the Transparency of Underlying Algorithms, Moderation Decisions, and the Prevalence of Anti -Semitism on Online Platforms. For Example, by Following the Revised EU Code of Conduct’s Recommendation of Publishing Country-Level Data Broken Down by the Internal Classification of Hate Speech.
Use ai and algorithms carefully to ensure they do not perpetuate anti -Semitic and holocaust thisting and denying content.
Make sure that is Enough Expertise and Capacity to Classify Anti -Semitic Content and Determine the Appropriat Actions.
Through our combined strengths we can tackle online anti -semitism. In the context of this letter, we would like to initiate a conversation, and will be in touch to set a date for this purpose. Thank you for Taking Note of Our Concerns and We Look Forward to Your Response.
Representatives of Regional Organizations (in Alphabetical Order of Organizations)
Andrew BakerPersonal Representative of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Anti-Semitism
Fernando LottenbergOrganization of American States Commissioner (OAS) to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism
National Representatives (in Alphabetical Order of Countries)
Jillian Segal AOAustralia’s Special Envoy to Combat anti -Semitism
Antonio MartinoDirector Department IV/12 Fosting Austrian-Jewish Cultural Heritage and Combating Antisemitism
Vince Szalay-BobrovniczkyDeputy State Secretary for Social and Civil Affairs, Prime Minister’s Office, Hungary
Michal Cotler-WunshSpecial Envoy for Combatting Anti -Semitism, Israel
Arvydas DaunoravičiusAmbassador-at-Large, Lithuania
Michel HeintzInterministerial Delegate for Policies Against Antisemitism, Racism and Lgtbiq+ Hatred, Luxembourg
Eddo VerdonerNational Coordinator on Combating Anti -Semitism for the Government of the Netherlands
Bogdan MazuruSpecial Representative of the Government of Romania for the Remembrance Policies and for the Fight Against Antisemitism and Xenophobia
Dragoș HoteeaCoordinator of the inter-ministerial Committee for Monitoring the Implementation of the 2024-2027 National Strategy for Preventing and Combating Anti-Semitism, Xenophobia, Radicalization and Hate Speech, Romania
Lord John MannIndependent advisor to the United Kingdom Government on Anti -Semitism