Addressing the hate speech issue in the Nordic countries: A challenge for media welfare states or a chance for their revival?
Responsible organisation
2024 (English)In: The Future of the Nordic Media Model: A Digital Media Welfare State? / [ed] P. Jakobsson, J. Lindell, & F. Stiernstedt, Nordicom, University of Gothenburg , 2024, p. 71-94Chapter in book (Refereed)
Abstract [en]
Hate speech on digital platforms manifests itself in ways that need to be addressed both in practice and on a policy level, taking Nordic (media) policies into novel areas. For this chapter, I analysed and compared policy documents discussing hatespeech from Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, with a focus on how hatespeech is defined, the perceived harmful functions of hate speech, and the suggested remedies. The analysis shows that hate speech is perceived to endanger societies’ democratic functions, public debate, and freedom of speech. Hate speech targetsspecific minorities and especially those in public positions or participating inpublic debate. The suggested remedies correspond with media welfare state ideals: increased collaboration between all relevant parties, state support for both citizens and media, and adjustments of existing laws. The role of online platforms is crucial, but concrete measures to hold them responsible still wait for the implementation of the European Union’s Digital Services Act legislation.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Nordicom, University of Gothenburg , 2024. p. 71-94
Keywords [en]
hate speech, policy, rights and values, Nordic countries, digital media
National Category
Media and Communication Studies
Research subject
Media
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:norden:org:diva-13059DOI: 10.48335/9789188855893-3ISBN: 978-91-88855-88-6 (print)ISBN: 978-91-88855-89-3 (electronic)ISBN: 978-91-88855-90-9 (electronic)OAI: oai:DiVA.org:norden-13059DiVA, id: diva2:1846335
Note
This research was enabled by University of Jyväskylä, Department of Language and Communication Studies. The chapter was finalised with support from Tampere University and Academy of Finland funded projects Communication Rights in the Age of Digital Disruption (Cordi), funding decision 3208917/2018 and Everyday Affective Practices Online: Producing, Experiencing and Managing Hate Speech in the Digital Era (Haffect), funding decision 340648/2021.
2024-03-262024-03-222025-06-12