Skip to main content

The EU Code of conduct on countering illegal hate speech online

The robust response provided by the European Union

​The EU Code of Conduct

To prevent and counter the spread of illegal hate speech online, in May 2016, the Commission agreed with Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and YouTube a “Code of conduct on countering illegal hate speech online”.

In the course of 2018, Instagram, Snapchat and Dailymotion took part to the Code of Conduct, Jeuxvideo.com in January 2019, TikTok in 2020 and Linked in 2021. In May and June 2022, respectively, Rakuten Viber and Twitch announced their participation to the Code of Conduct.

 

​How it performs

The implementation of the Code of Conduct is evaluated through a regular monitoring exercise set up in collaboration with a network of organisations located in the different EU countries. Using a commonly agreed methodology, these organisations test how the IT companies are implementing the commitments in the Code.

  • 27 SEPTEMBER 2019
Information note - Progress on combating hate speech online through the EU Code of conduct 2016-2019

 

​Monitoring rounds

  • Factsheet - 7th monitoring round of the Code of Conduct
  • 1 DECEMBER 2022
Factsheet - 7th monitoring round of the Code of Conduct
  • 1 DECEMBER 2022
Information provided by the IT companies about measures taken to counter hate speech – 2022
  • 1 DECEMBER 2022
Annex to the Code – Joint statement by IT companies and trusted flagger organisations to enhance cooperation

 

  • 6th monitoring (Oct 2021)
  • 2 SEPTEMBER 2021
Factsheet - 6th monitoring round of the Code of Conduct
  • 6 OCTOBER 2021
Information provided by the IT companies about measures taken to counter hate speech
  • 5th monitoring (Jun 2020)
  • 22 JUNE 2020
Factsheet - 5th monitoring round of the Code of Conduct
  • 4th monitoring (Dec 2018)
  • 30 JANUARY 2019
Factsheet - 4th monitoring round of the Code of Conduct
  • 3rd monitoring (Dec 2017)
  • 1 JANUARY 2018
Results of the 3rd monitoring exercise
  • 2nd monitoring (May 2017)
  • 1 JUNE 2017
Results of the 2nd monitoring exercise
  • 1st monitoring (Dec 2016)
  • 1 DECEMBER 2016
Results of the 1st monitoring exercise
  • 30 JUNE 2016
Code of conduct on countering illegal hate speech online

News and further information about the Code of Conduct