Norway hate speech and harassment response

The Norwegian government has initiated the development of a new national strategy to combat hate speech, with a formal presentation expected in 2027. Culture and Equality Minister Lubna Jaffery stated the goal is to consolidate existing measures across various departments to protect democratic participation.

Initial steps include allocating four million NOK to libraries to establish meeting spaces for youth to engage with democracy. This response follows reports of rising harassment and incitement to violence, including personal experiences of political figures like Socialist Left Party deputy leader Marian Hussein, who noted that racism and threats have impacted her ability to participate in public debate.

Discussions at the Spekter Conference further highlighted concerns that online trolling and a small minority of bad actors could disrupt public discourse and force individuals to withdraw from political life. While current strategies address antisemitism, Islamophobia, and homophobia, the government is also working on a strategy specifically for people with disabilities.