During the EP plenary session (3-6 April 2017) in Strasbourg, MEPs discuss how the EU can better respond to these phenomena of hate speech, populism, and fake news on social media, so as to prevent interference in the democratic process and particularly in elections. Statements by Tanja FAJON (S&amp;D, SI), Ian BORG, Maltese Presidency of the EU, Andrus ANSIP, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Digital Single Market, Monika HOHLMEIER (EPP, DE), Josef WEIDENHOLZER (S&amp;D, AU) and Ulrike LUNACEK (Greens/EFA, AT).

Hate speech, populism, and fake news on social media – towards an EU response: extracts from the debate

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SOUNDBITE (English), Tanja FAJON (S&amp;D, SI), What is especially worrying is the accelerated spread in social media. Around half of European citizens follow today news on Facebook and other social media and six out of 10 news items shared or are passed without being read first. Majority of people mostly young have difficulties to identify fake news.

SOUNDBITE (English), Tanja FAJON (S&amp;D, SI), We need some kind of clarification from the EU to the self-regulated measures in the sector. We have to strengthen the efforts in working towards the establishment of online platforms so that fake news or illegal content is completely eliminated and for those who fail to do so, to impose fines. We have to better support fact checking web sites. This is why I also call the Commission to analyse in depth the current situation and legal framework with regards to fake news and to explore the possibility of legislative intervention to limit dissemination and spreading of fake content. Next education. For children to be taught in schools how to spot fake news, the inclusion of media literacy in education is we have to actively engage with our younger citizens.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ian BORG, Maltese Presidency of the EU, These counter measures would all be useless if we forget that we have a role in educating our youth. To be more specific we need to strengthen out democratic resolve, media literacy, tolerance and conflict settlement skills should all be included in education.

SOUNDBITE (English), Andrus ANSIP, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Digital Single Market, Promoting media literacy is vital as is the need for quality journalism. All journalists&rsquo; code of conduct includes accuracy as one of the main requirements, self-regulation and ethical standards play a very important role here. Social media platforms and users are acting to expose fake news and unmask the source. I also see global brands and media organisations deciding to move advertising money only to sites that are known to be free from harmful content.

SOUNDBITE (German), Monika HOHLMEIER (EPP, DE),  We can&rsquo;t pretend that 100.000 of people share something and there is an instrument behind that and it is something that is launched by 10 people. We have to do something about these alternative facts, there are no alternative facts, there are only facts. We have freedom of opinion but we don&rsquo;t have alternatives to facts.

SOUNDBITE (German), Josef WEIDENHOLZER (S&amp;D, AU), We have the code of conduct with the companies but putting this on a voluntary basis is not enough, we need proper rules, because you should be able to delete things in real time. These things got to be done extremely quickly, also there has to be a possibility for complaint procedure, there has to be a public debate on how you can recognize fake news in the first place and ultimately you should also have the possibility to counter act these things and it is clear that there should be better investigative powers, we should leave it at that.

SOUNDBITE (German), Ulrike LUNACEK (Greens/EFA, AT), It is good that there is the code of conduct with 4 big businesses, but the implementation is lacking, because companies can&rsquo;t simply replace Courts. It is important that facebook can delete posts that are based on hate speech, or abusive posts, but you need a Court of final instance. And also we need to improve the framework agreement on discrimination and hate speech, we need to ensure that all these terms are better defined.

SOUNDBITE (German), Ulrike LUNACEK (Greens/EFA, AT), The former German Environment Minister, Renate K&uuml;nast, did it a different way forward, she without announcing it has simply found the people who were abusing here on the internet, she confronted them and actually these people fade into the background , when they are actually approached and contradicted they disappear.

Hate speech, populism, and fake news on social media – towards an EU response: extracts from the debate

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