Dozens of cases involving hate speech were investigated by the police in 2025, as were the criminal prosecutions subsequently filed that same year, according to data presented today by Andreas Anastasiades, head of the Cybercrime Division of the Cyprus Police, to the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights. However, according to data from the OECD Office for Human Rights, presented by the Committee’s Chair, Christos Christofides, only two cases have resulted in convictions so far.
Citing data available to the police, Mr. Anastasiades reported to the Committee that there were 57 racially motivated cases in 2023, of which 32 resulted in criminal cases, 54 in 2024, of which 30 led to criminal cases, and 44 in 2025, of which 18 led to criminal cases. Criminal prosecutions were brought in 24 of the 57 cases in 2023, in 20 of the 54 cases in 2024, and in 10 of the 30 cases in 2025.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The Committee revisited the issue of online hate speech and the responsibility of the state and private entities, following a proposal by AKEL MPs, following the gaps and weaknesses in addressing the phenomenon, which, as they noted, were identified at a corresponding meeting in 2025. The Committee Chair, AKEL Member of Parliament Christos Christofides, emphasized the need for tangible results to emerge from the discussions within the Committee, noting, following the statements by the invited guests, that, among other things, the police’s ex officio intervention mechanism should be strengthened, and that social media accounts that systematically engage in hate speech should be publicly denounced, so that citizens, too, can learn to take a critical stance against such phenomena.
The Committee’s Vice Chair, AKEL MP Argentoula Ioannou, stated after the meeting that the party’s parliamentary group intends, after thoroughly reviewing the memoranda and statements submitted by the relevant parties, to draft proposals to amend the legislation in order to address these gaps.
Furthermore, the Committee Chair noted during the meeting that the first declaration on digital human rights is already being drafted, which will also address the issue of hate speech directed against individuals, and legislative initiatives based on this declaration will follow. “In Cyprus, we lack not only legal provisions, but also a unified and measurable system for prevention, reporting, investigation, prosecution, and accountability,” Mr. Christofides emphasized.
It is telling that, although—as Andreas Anastasiades noted—there is a clear police directive with instructions for every stage of investigating complaints regarding hate speech, there is no specialized unit dedicated to addressing expressions of hate speech online, as the law does not distinguish between addressing the phenomenon based on whether it occurs in the physical or digital realm. He noted, however, that the police have the discretion to take action if they identify a statement that constitutes hate speech during gatherings or events.
Mr. Anastasiadis referred to the particular difficulties involved in cases against anonymous accounts. “We reach out to platforms abroad,” he said, adding that this “is time-consuming and causes us concern,” while noting that in many cases the request is not granted, with the platforms citing freedom of speech. She further added that the investigation often ends when it is determined that the account is operating via a VPN.
Anthi Papoutsidou, an official at the Ministry of Justice and Public Order, noted that, in addition to the police investigating complaints, certain measures are also being implemented to carry out the National Strategy on Human Rights (e.g., for women, people with disabilities, and the Roma), both by the Ministry and by other agencies. Ms. Papoutsidou also referred to the aspect of prevention through education, a point that was also highlighted by Members of Parliament, noting that an annual competition is held in elementary and secondary schools to prevent violence and juvenile delinquency.
For her part, the Director of the Radio, Television, and Digital Services Authority, Eirini Loizidou, explained that with the supervisory powers the Authority now holds, under the EU law recently transposed into Cypriot legislation, it supervises platforms based in Cyprus, while those based in the EU (most of them in Ireland, as she noted) are under the supervision of the European Commission.
Ms. Loizidou said that 117 platforms of various categories are currently based in Cyprus (including those with pornographic content), and of those 117, 37 platforms and 25 providers fall under the category of those subject to oversight. The Authority is responsible for monitoring whether the platforms are adopting preventive measures to eliminate hate speech, she noted, adding that on-site inspections are scheduled to take place once the mapping is complete.
She also noted that three organizations have expressed their intention to be accredited as reliable partners for reporting such incidents. These organizations are the Cyprus Police, the Pedagogical Institute, and CUT.
Orestis Nikita also made a series of recommendations on behalf of the Cyprus Bar Association, emphasizing in particular that an immediate response from the relevant authorities is required in cases of online hate speech, given the speed at which such content spreads. Among other things, Mr. Nikitas proposed the possibility of private criminal prosecution by the affected party, so that cases can proceed without delay.
He also recommended strengthening mechanisms for the immediate reporting and investigation of illegal content and establishing an obligation for media outlets that maintain comment sections on news platforms to deletecomments that express hate speech before they are shared.
The meeting also addressed the issue of the reproduction of hate speech by journalists and media outlets, as well as cases of journalists being targeted by hate speech.
The Chair of the Journalism Ethics Committee, Elli Kotziamani, emphasized the Commission’s sensitivity to issues of racist speech and hate speech, as well as the provisions in the Code of Ethics regarding this matter. She noted that the Commission receives approximately 40–50 complaints annually regarding hate speech, pointing out, however, that instances of racist speech have decreased, following training sessions the Commission conducted years ago to educate journalists.
Ms. Kotziamani strongly emphasized the importance of preserving media self-regulation, noting that in cases where it is deemed necessary—due to a violation of the Code of Ethics—the Commission issues relevant recommendations, but no punitive measures are taken.
For his part, Giorgos Fragos, President of the Cyprus Journalists’ Union, emphasized the need to ensure that freedom of expression and the exercise of public criticism—which lie at the heart of the journalistic profession—are not eroded, as part of efforts to address this phenomenon. “We must not resort to actions that amount to preventive censorship,” he said, reaffirming the ESK’s commitment to the principle of self-regulation.
The OECD Office for Human Rights issues a warning, says H. Christofides
The Commission’s President, who highlighted the link between hate speech and acts of violence based on studies conducted in Germany, the UK, the U.S., and elsewhere, noted that the OECD Office for Human Rights “warns that Cypriot data conflate hate speech with hate crimes and do not allow for a clear distinction.”
“An analysis of 2.7 million posts in PNAS showed that hostility toward the opposing group was the strongest predictor of sharing and that each relevant term increased, on average, the likelihood of sharing by 67%,” he said.
Mr. Christofides spoke of accounts—rather than individuals—engaging in hate speech against political opponents, noting that it is “common knowledge that an army of accounts is being mobilized” for this purpose, while referring to “trolls” who play this role online.
Mr. Christofides stated that the Committee would revisit this issue within a month, while Argentoulla Ioannou, in remarks following the meeting, expressed AKEL’s intention, once the discussion is concluded, to build on the recommendations of the relevant authorities and agencies and move forward with specific proposals to fill the legislative gaps, as well as a proposal to establish a national mechanism for monitoring these cases.
“By adopting a holistic strategy, we must examine all necessary measures to address this pernicious phenomenon that undermines human rights, while the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus currently claim to be unable to address it immediately and effectively,” said Ms. Ioannou.
DISY MP Dimos Georgiadis, in remarks following the session, said that citizens are vulnerable and essentially exposed to fake accounts that engage in hate speech online, citing a serious gap in the practical response to this phenomenon. He highlighted the difficulties that exist due to the need for international cooperation with platforms abroad, while also expressing concern that algorithms facilitate the spread of hate speech online. Finally, he particularly emphasized the need to protect children from such phenomena.
ELAM MP Andreas Papacharalambous emphasized in his remarks that defending freedom of speech should not mean lawlessness. “There should be no off-limits areas on the internet,” he said, acknowledging the practical difficulties and the fact that this discussion is not limited to the domestic sphere. “However, anyone who threatens, incites violence, or targets people should know that the law applies to them and that there will be consequences,” she concluded.
Litsa Drousioti, a member of the Alma movement, Litsa Drousioti, pointed out in her remarks that, despite the adoption of the Digital Services Act, efforts to combat hate speech remain inadequate in Cyprus. “That is why we are calling for the central coordination of a functional national mechanism with clear responsibilities for prevention, public awareness, education, immediate handling of complaints, and accountability,” she stated. She added, however, that any regulation must protect freedom of expression, and any intervention must be necessary and proportionate.
Diana Konstantinidi, a member of parliament for Direct Democracy, stated that no plan had been presented regarding the fight against hate speech. In fact, she cited an example from a comment posted under a video by the President of Direct Democracy, Fidia Panagiotou, noting that it contained an incitement to suicide. “We urgently need legislation, we need institutions, we need rules on platforms, and above all, we need education,” said Ms. Konstantinidi.
Source: CNA
