The Government delegate visits the URJC to address hate crimes in cyberspace

Rosa Marquez of the Order

In July 2021, the UN General Assembly expressed alarm at the global expansion of hate speech through the internet, leading it to adopt a resolution to counter it and promote dialogue and tolerance. However, within the United Nations framework, the ambiguity of the phrase "hate speech" has also been pointed out, given its vagueness and the lack of consensus on its meaning. This indeterminacy can be misused to restrict a wide range of lawful expression. The summer course 'Hate speech in cyberspace. Again, how to draw limits on freedom of opinion and expression without undermining the democratic essence?' addresses these issues from a legal and institutional perspective, to provide solutions through debate with experts in the field.

“Hate speech designates scapegoats and creates stereotypes that stigmatize. The history of humanity is full of sad chapters that justified discrimination and, subsequently, always violence,” explained the Government delegate, in charge of the opening lesson of the seminar. “In recent years, with the popularization of social networks, a new type of discourse focused on women has emerged, which ridicules gender violence and mercilessly attacks the feminist movement. It is not something spontaneous, it is closely linked to the emergence of populist and extreme right movements.” In this sense, Martín Aguirre has recalled the emergence of Vox on the political scene and, more recently, of the Se Acabó la Fiesta party, led by Alvise Pérez, whom he has defined as a propagator of hoaxes. “Hate speech is the basis of conspiracy theories, as well as misinformation and the denial of historical events such as genocide.” Precisely one of the round tables of the day was dedicated to Gaza and how incitement to hatred is used as a weapon of war in armed conflicts, in this case against the Palestinian people.

The seminar includes, among other experts, the professor of Criminal Law at the Olavide University of Seville, Alfonso Galán Muñoz, the professor of Criminal Law at the University of Castilla La Mancha, Rosario de Vicente Martínez, the head of service of the Office for the Fight against Hate Crimes in the Interior, Tomás Fernández Villazala or the journalist and researcher Miquel Ramos.