Digital Library
Inter-Parliamentary Task Force to Combat Online Antisemitism Presses for Independent Review of Platforms Following European Parliament Hearings
Topic:
Antisemitism & Antizionism
Principal Investigators:
Not listed
Study Date:
2023
Source:
Office of Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Key Findings:
An international task force of parliamentarians dedicated to combating online antisemitism convened for a two-day summit in Brussels, culminating in a decision to advocate for a global independent review of major social media platforms. During the nearly three-hour hearing in the European Parliament, the task force interrogated representatives from Twitter, Meta, and YouTube regarding the proliferation of antisemitism on their platforms. Despite the legislators’ requests, the social media companies again refused to commit to a global independent review, only complying with the European Union’s Digital Services Act, which mandates an independent audit for platforms within the EU.
In response to this refusal, the task force decided to collaborate with technical experts to conduct an independent review if the companies do not provide written answers to the questions posed during the hearing. U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a co-chair of the task force, emphasized the urgency of the issue and called on the platforms to cooperate. Canadian MP Anthony Housefather expressed shock at the platforms' inability to clarify whether overtly antisemitic statements would violate their policies, a failure that highlights the inadequacies in their content moderation.
The summit also featured discussions on adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, with Israeli co-chair Michal Cotler-Wunsh stressing the need for a clear definition to effectively combat antisemitism. Breakout sessions with technical experts further explored the challenges of identifying and addressing online antisemitism, while meetings with Jewish civil society organizations highlighted the real-world impact of this issue, particularly in Europe.
Methodology:
The summit, held on June 27-28, brought together lawmakers from various countries, social media representatives, ambassadors, technology experts, and civil society groups. This was the second meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Task Force to Combat Online Antisemitism, following an earlier summit in Washington, D.C. The task force comprised members from the European Union, United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Israel.
The summit was supported by various Jewish organizations, including the American Jewish Committee, the Council of Presidents, the European Jewish Congress, and the American Ambassador to Belgium.