Cyprus appoints first trusted flagger for online hate speech

Cyprus has appointed its first certified trusted flagger for online hate speech, allowing a designated organisation to flag cases and help ensure complaints receive priority attention.

The Cyprus University of Technology (CUT), working with the Mediterranean Digital Media Observatory (MedDMO), will take on the role, according to Christos Christofides, chairman of the House Human Rights Committee.

The issue was discussed at a committee meeting on Tuesday, where participants also highlighted gaps in the country’s legislation and regulatory framework for tackling online hate speech.

Trusted flagger to help prioritise complaints

Christofides said citizens would be able to report suspected cases of online hate speech to the certified organisation.

The trusted flagger will not decide the outcome of complaints. However, reports flagged by a certified body carry particular weight when authorities and platforms prioritise their examination.

Participants also reached a consensus on the need to establish an observatory to monitor hate speech, Christofides said.

He added that a clearer roadmap had emerged for possible legislative changes, taking into account developments at European level. He stressed that the committee wanted to pursue practical solutions and seek answers from the executive branch rather than address issues on an occasional basis.

Christofides also said a proposal for a police digital platform appeared to be gaining acceptance. Such a platform would allow complainants to track the progress of their cases and receive updates.

Cyprus faces legal and regulatory gaps

University of Cyprus Professor of International Law and Human Rights Aris Constantinides highlighted gaps in the existing legal and regulatory framework.

He said tackling online hate speech was complex because authorities must balance freedom of expression with the protection of people targeted by hate speech.

Constantinides also pointed to uncertainty in some areas of international law and said certain European rules should already be directly applicable but had not yet been implemented in Cyprus. He stressed that international and European standards needed to be incorporated into national legislation to be effective.

He added that the rules governing major online platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, could not simply be the same as those applying to online news websites and newspapers. He described this distinction as one of Cyprus’ major legislative challenges.

The need to modernise the legal framework was also raised by Christofides, who noted that hate speech appears not only on social media but also in the comments sections of news websites.

The president of the Union of Cyprus Journalists had highlighted that the press and media legislation dates back to 1989, before the internet existed, underlining the potential shortcomings of the current framework.

Experts call for monitoring and public education

Venetia Papa, a professor of journalism and digital media at CUT, outlined three main priorities for addressing online hate speech.

These were better recording and coordination of monitoring mechanisms, regulation through relevant bodies such as the Cyprus Radio Television Authority and the Cyprus Media Ethics Committee, and public information and education.

Papa said particular attention should be paid to ordinary citizens, vulnerable groups and communities that have limited access to authorities and institutions.

She also warned that algorithms and shortcomings in the operation of major technology platforms presented significant challenges. Establishing rules and mechanisms alone would not address every aspect of the problem.

Papa called for a specific national framework that would make effective use of the powers already held by competent bodies and identify gaps that needed to be addressed. She said the response should not focus exclusively on introducing new criminal prohibitions or prosecutions.

MPs debate responsibility for online comments

DISY MP Michalis Kounounis raised the need to clarify the circumstances under which criminal proceedings should be brought against someone accused of hate speech.

He noted that written comments do not convey tone in the same way as spoken remarks, and argued that this should be taken into account when assessing cases.

DIKO MP Andreas Apostolou questioned how news organisations could monitor the large volume of comments posted on their social media platforms every day.

He argued that responsibility for identifying, blocking and reporting users for hate speech should not fall exclusively on media organisations. Instead, he called for action at international level through mechanisms operated by the major online platforms themselves.

ALMA – Citizens for Cyprus MP Litsa Drousiotou also highlighted gaps in the current framework and the scope for legislative improvements.

She said Constantinides had stressed the need for a clearer definition of hate speech, specific procedures for reporting and removing illegal content, and greater use of the trusted flagger system.

Drousiotou added that the Police considered substantial changes to the existing legal framework unnecessary, while remaining open to individual improvements. She said this position should be examined further to identify the precise gaps and determine what action was required.

She also raised concerns about police understaffing, saying the force did not have a specialised unit dealing with online hate speech, according to information presented to the committee. No specific answer had been given on whether additional personnel would be provided.

Drousiotou further questioned the absence of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy from the meeting, after the committee was reportedly informed that the issue did not fall within its remit.

She said tackling online hate speech required a clear legal framework, effective enforcement mechanisms and coordination between the relevant services, while fully respecting freedom of expression.

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