Europol has successfully concluded a Referral Action Day aimed at identifying and combatting antisemitic content online.
This coordinated operation, which was led by authorities in Switzerland and the United Kingdom, took place on 27 June 2024. The operation involved law enforcement agencies from 18 countries, working in tandem with Europol’s European Union Internet Referral Unit (EU IRU) and major online service providers.
The Referral Action Day targeted a wide range of antisemitic content, including hate speech, Holocaust denial, and the glorification of violence against the Jewish community. The primary objective was to remove illegal content and ensure that online platforms adhere to European regulations concerning hate speech and discrimination.
In total, close to 2 000 pieces of antisemitic content were identified and referred by Europol and the participating countries to online service providers for removal.
The focus of the Referral Action Day stems from the rise of widespread antisemitism justified and cultivated in Jihadi-spheres and right-wing, as well as left-wing, extremist groups online. This antisemitic content is also spread by non-affiliated individuals on various online platforms. This surge in hate speech was triggered by the 7 October attack by the Hamas terrorist organisation against Israel and the subsequent Israeli military response.
National Internet Referral Units and specialised police units from the following countries took part in this Referral Action Day:
Albania, Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
