On 4 March, Commissioner Brunner hosted the 10th EU Internet Forum Ministerial Meeting in Brussels. The meeting concluded with several concrete deliverables to promote swift joint action in a crisis, addressing the risks to minors online posed by terrorism and violent extremism and the rise of antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred within terrorism and violent extremism.
Commissioner Brunner called for collective action. Today, all crimes, including terrorism, have an online dimension, amid growing pressures on the EU’s regulatory and voluntary frameworks. The discussion at the EUIF Ministerial meeting underlined the importance of a whole-of-society approach. The concrete outcomes demonstrate that security and fundamental rights online are not in competition but in need of each other.
The new EU Online Crisis Response Framework (former EU Crisis Protocol) was endorsed. This revised voluntary mechanism for law enforcement authorities and online service providers introduces early warning alerts and places a heightened emphasis on victim protection online. It thereby effectively addresses the increasingly complex online ramifications of terrorist attacks. The new Framework contributes to preventing the spread of illegal content online, protecting the EU public, safeguarding victims, related communities and their rights in the aftermath of a terrorist attack, all the while upholding the principles of freedom of expression and the right to information.
Participants discussed the growing threat of terrorism and violent extremism to minors online: the rapidly emerging nihilist extremism, where minors are both victims and perpetrators, presents a significant threat and challenges.
Therefore, the EU Internet Forum will provide law enforcement and online service providers with a Knowledge Package on nihilistic violent extremism to support actions in this area. Additionally, an Action Day between Member States’ law enforcement authorities, online service providers, and Europol to target nihilistic extremist networks was agreed.
The discussion also focused on new solutions to tackle antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred in the context of terrorism, violent extremism and radicalisation online. An Action Day by Member States law enforcement agencies, Europol and online service providers was agreed to also address these two threats, specifically focusing on identifying and removing illegal content, whilst ensuring freedom of expression and fundamental rights online.