Insights from the Belgrade Workshop “Exploring Antisemitism and Disinformation in the Digital Space.” (13-15 November 2024)
Tackling antisemitism online requires a strong and effective transnational collaboration between tech platforms, civil society, and politics. Social media platforms must actively engage with civil society organisations, embracing their expertise to address hate speech and disinformation online. Hate speech and disinformation online have direct and dangerous consequences, as they fuel the spread of antisemitic narratives and deepen societal divisions.
From 13 to 15 November, more than 40 practitioners from the Practitioners against Antisemitism network gathered in Belgrade for the fourth workshop, titled “Exploring Antisemitism and Disinformation in the Digital Space.” The Serbian capital, with its rich and complex history, provided a fitting backdrop for participants to address the pressing challenges of combating antisemitism in Europe and to collaboratively design forward-looking solutions.
The workshop began with insightful presentations that set the stage for deeper discussions. Monika Hübscher shared her research on “Antisemitism on Social Media,” shedding light on the dynamics that amplify antisemitic content in digital networks and how, especially among young people, such content is observed and used as a basis for shaping opinions. Nikola Burazer offered a Serbian perspective with his case study on “Russian Interference, Disinformation, and the Spread of Antisemitism,” exploring how targeted disinformation campaigns contribute to the proliferation of antisemitic narratives.
Participants later engaged in focused working sessions to develop “Future Practices”—innovative concepts aimed at addressing key issues such as online antisemitism, antisemitism among younger generations, and the intersectionality of antisemitism with other forms of discrimination. These ideas will be piloted in the next phase of the EPNA programme to evaluate their effectiveness and practicality, with the ultimate goal of creating sustainable strategies for combating antisemitism across Europe.
One of the workshop’s most memorable moments was the visit to Belgrade’s Jewish community at the Sukat Shalom synagogue and community centre. Participants received a warm welcome and engaged in a meaningful exchange on the realities of Jewish life in Serbia with community members, accompanied by Katharina von Schnurbein, the European Commission Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism.
Later, a public panel discussion titled “Countering Antisemitism Online – Challenges and Opportunities” took place at the EU Info Centre in the heart of Belgrade. The event opened with remarks from several ambassadors, followed by a lively debate with high-level experts on the challenges and potential strategies for addressing antisemitism in the digital sphere. One major challenge discussed was the lack of transparency in social media algorithms. For instance, companies like Facebook, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter) do not share detailed information about their algorithms, making it difficult for researchers to analyse how harmful content is amplified or suppressed. This secrecy leaves civil society and policymakers with limited tools to understand the root causes of the proliferation of online hate. Additionally, while social media platforms reflect societal issues, they often fail to adequately manage hateful content, such as antisemitic memes or conspiracy theories, despite having the technological capability to do so. As for strategies, the panel highlighted the importance of implementing strict policies and regulations, particularly at the EU level. For example, the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) was cited as a first, but not sufficient, step forward in holding platforms accountable by requiring them to monitor and mitigate illegal content actively.
A special thank you goes to our friends from the Serbian NGO Terraforming for their invaluable support in organising the workshop. Their expertise and dedication were instrumental in ensuring the event’s success.
These three days of intensive collaboration once again underscored the importance of European-level exchange and cooperation. By bringing together diverse perspectives, the workshop created opportunities for insights and creative solutions that would not have been possible within a solely national framework.
We now look ahead with great anticipation to the EPNA Conference in February 2025 in Berlin. There, we will present the interim results of our work, reconnect with network members, and continue to strengthen the collective fight against antisemitism.
