News item | 04-07-2025 | 15:15
The government is going to make more work on the approach to online discrimination. The use is better reporting online discrimination in platforms, better enforcement and good support for victims. The cabinet has reserved € 1 million a year for this. Minister Uitermark of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK) coordinates the approach and has sent the plan to the Lower House for this.
Minister Uitermark: “The online world may not be a sancrimination for discrimination. It must be a place where everyone can express themselves freely, but with respect for each other. Where people speak out and take action when they see discrimination. And where consequences can follow when discriminatory messages are posted. That can only be done if we take a decisive and joint action, and all parties involved.”
More cooperation and better report
Various organizations have already taken important steps in recent years to tackle online discrimination. Consider the start of reporting points or facilities for assistance to victims. An important part of the plan is to bring these initiatives together. And also to involve the anti -discrimination facilities (ADVs), including the central reporting point for online discrimination: Meld.online discrimination. The Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations coordinates the approach, and cooperates with the Ministries of Education, Culture and Science, Social Affairs and Employment and Justice and Security.
Central to the approach is better reporting discriminatory online expressions to platforms. Citizens can do this themselves at the platforms, or make a report at a hotline. The reporting points can take an important role in this – as reliable flagger. Reports of reliable flaggers can be treated with priority by platforms under the Digital Services Act (DSA). Together with supervisors such as the Consumer and Market Authority and the Dutch Data Protection Authority, the government will look at how new technical tools such as AI and legal frameworks can be used to identify criminal discrimination more large -scale and faster and to report it to online platforms.
Better support
Furthermore, victims receive better support. Help must be clear and accessible, and match the existing needs. For this, investments are made in better infrastructure and knowledge at the various reporting points. Broader awareness, including bystanders, also plays a role in this. To achieve this, a national conversation is started about what is and is not normal online and about the effect of online discrimination. This conversation is organized both online and in public places, such as in schools and libraries.