“Media Literacy as a tool to fight hate speech”, was the key topic of the Alliance against Hate Speech meeting, organized by the Council of Europe, CoE. The roundtable was attended by the Head of the CoE Office in Tirana, Ms. Giulia Re, the Head of the Justice Sector at the EU Delegation, Ms. Cinzia Tarletti, as well as leaders of other institutions that are part of the Alliance.
In her opening remarks, the Chair of the Audiovisual Media Authority emphasized the importance of addressing the phenomenon of hate speech and the fight against it.
“Over the past decade, media and communication have radically changed, and technology has completely overturned the traditional communication model. While this extraordinary metamorphosis has brought many benefits, it has also led to harmful phenomena, including hate speech. For this reason, it’s crucial to raise public awareness, understand the risks posed by hate speech, and effectively address the challenges it presents”, stated Ms. Armela Krasniqi. She further outlined the commitment of the institution she leads to Media Literacy, as the most secure, long-term, and effective investment in protecting the public from all harmful content, including hate speech.
AMA’s Chair informed the participants that, unfortunately, hate speech in audiovisual broadcasts remains a well-known issue, even for regulatory authorities in the European audiovisual market. “For this reason, coordinating efforts, exchanging experiences, and adopting best practices against these phenomena is the most effective strategy to fight them” – added Ms. Krasniqi.
In concluding her remarks, the AMA’s Chair raised another highly important issue closely related to the topic that was being discussed: Freedom of Speech. “The truth is that addressing hate speech does not mean restricting or prohibiting freedom of speech. It means ensuring that hate speech does not escalate into something more dangerous, particularly incitement to discrimination, hostility, and violence, which is prohibited under international law” – Ms. Krasniqi concluded.
The Head of the CoE Office in Tirana, Ms. Giulia Re, stated that this is the right time to discuss this highly important topic.
“We consider hate speech a human rights issue, but as Ms. Armela also mentioned, democracy and the impact of hate speech on democracy cannot be overlooked. We are working on an action plan on democracy within the Council of Europe, and hate speech will be part of this plan to make democracies more resilient”, explained the Head of the CoE Office in Tirana.
For the Head of the Justice Sector at the EU Delegation, Ms. Cinzia Tarletti, this event can be seen as a testament to the shared commitment to building a democratic society. “Hate speech is not just a collection of words but it has serious consequences, deepens discrimination, threatens society, and harms human rights. Therefore, media literacy is a powerful tool that helps individuals think critically and distinguish facts from disinformation. Today’s discussion is an opportunity to gain a better understanding of these critical areas that require change”, stated Ms. Tarletti.
Council of Complaints Chair at AMA, Ms. Mirela Oktrova, stated that media literacy is essential for the development and empowerment of the audience and has been part of AMA’s organic law since 2023, along with the obligations arising from it.
“With the increase of the public complaints from 35 in 2016 to over 1,000 in 2024, AMA aims to raise citizen’s awareness of the legislation, the media market, and new technologies. Media literacy is an ongoing challenge that requires the involvement of parents, the education system, and regulators to help individuals adapt to technological advancements and develop the skills needed to identify, counter, and report hate speech in digital spaces”, – said Ms. Oktrova.
Ilda Londo, Albanian Media Institute representative, stated that since 2010, the Institute has been working in this area with other educational institutions, primarily in pre-university education. However, according to her, at that time, this initiative was premature. “With the changes in the information landscape, the need for media and information literacy has grown significantly. Therefore, in recent years, we have intensified our efforts both in the pre-university and university systems, starting with curriculum interventions and extending to the teachers and students trainings to raise awareness of these phenomena”.
Ms. Vilma Shurdha, Ombudsman Commissioner, stated that this institution is fully aware of the profound impact that hate speech has on democratic values, security, and equality in society. She emphasized the importance of the Alliance against Hate Speech as a collaborative platform that brings together public institutions, civil society, and the media to fight the phenomenon of hate speech.
The Commissioner for Protection against Discrimination, Mr. Robert Gajda, clarified that the most affected groups by hate speech are minorities, including the LGBT community. He also raised concerns regarding the language used in the Albanian Parliament, adding that cooperation and engagement with the media will be essential for the future.
Meanwhile, Mr. Koloreto Cukali, Albanian Media Council’s Chair, analyzed the reasons behind the low number of complaints from citizens regarding hate speech and according to him, this is due to the inability and lack of empowerment of marginalized groups.
The founding partners of the Alliance against Hate Speech are the Audiovisual Media Authority, the Albanian Media Council, the Commissioner for Protection against Discrimination, and the Ombudsman.
