Press Council of BiH calls for urgent prevention of hate speech on internet platforms

The Press Council of BiH has filed a report on hate speech, inciting rhetoric, and internet abuse with the BiH Ministry of Security, the State Investigation and Protection Agency - SIPA, the Federal Police Administration, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska, the Intelligence-Security Agency of BiH, and the BiH Prosecutor's Office, demanding urgent intervention and prevention of the abuse of freedom of speech on the internet, internet portals, social networks, and video services, by spreading hate speech, inciting rhetoric, and threats, which create unease and insecurity among the citizens of BiH, it was announced from the Council, reports the BiH news agency Patria.

The Press Council calls on the competent institutions to act in accordance with their authorities and take all measures to identify and prosecute individuals and/or groups who spread hate speech, endanger the security of BiH citizens and the functioning of democratic society, through threats, calls for unrest and conflicts, and by creating general insecurity among the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- The role and influence of the media in every democratic society are extremely important, and the media must be allowed to freely perform their basic function – which is to provide accurate and timely information to citizens, which can help them understand reality.

However, media and individuals who openly abuse their right to freedom of information and freedom of speech must be sanctioned for inciting national, racial, religious hatred, discord, and intolerance, as prescribed by the criminal laws of BiH – the Council stated.

The report filed by the Council, the statement said, specifically refers to the internet platform/blog vijesti-ummeta.com, which daily posts extremely disturbing and threatening content, reports Patria.