Swiss minister warns against spread of online hate speech
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis has warned against the anonymous nature of cyberspace and the dangers of online hate speech in his address to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
This content was published on
3 minutes
swissinfo.ch/sb
Español
es
Suiza advierte contra propagación de discurso del odio
“Digital technologies have great potential to strengthen human rights. The internet gives access to unprecedented quantities of information, allowing new opportunities for freedom of expression and assembly. But at the same time, the anonymous nature of cyberspace is creating new threats and encouraging the spread of hate speech,” Cassis told the councilExternal link on Monday.
The minister underlined the importance of digital technologies for Swiss foreign policy.
“Under the label “Tech 4 Good”, our development cooperation is expanding a range of instruments: from fintech to drones. And in cooperation with the private sector and universities, we are exploring new avenues of “science-diplomacy” to help states to engage in dialogue and individuals to improve their quality of life,” he said.
Geneva has grown into a global hub for digital governance. In recent years, the Swiss authorities, international organisations and industry have launched various initiatives such as Geneva Internet Platform, the Cyber Peace Institute, the Swiss Digital Initiative Foundation and the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator Foundation.
During his speech, Cassis also underlined the importance of the UN and the multilateral system for Switzerland; this year the global body is celebrating its 75th anniversary.
“The last 75 years have demonstrated that the big challenges for humanity can only be met together. This is particularly true in the field of basic human rights,” he said.
The same goes for the environment and the combat against climate change, as “no country or continent can resolve the problem alone”, Cassis added.
Gutérres’ call to action
At the start of the 43rd council sessionExternal link, UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutérres gave a highly anticipated speech in which he issued a “call to action” to countries, businesses and all people to help renew and revive human rights across the globe.
The UN secretary-general laid out a seven-point plan linking human rights to issues like sustainable development, crisis prevention, gender equality, the development of the digital age, and freedom of expression and civil society.
Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, welcomed Guterres’ speech but urged him to be more direct in his statements.
“By providing a strong voice advocating for victims and condemning abusers, the Secretary-General can stand tall against governments committing serious rights violations – whether it’s the mass arbitrary detention of Uyghurs in China, atrocities committed against Myanmar’s Rohingyas, indiscriminate Russian-Syrian bombing of civilians in Idlib, or the forced separation of children from their parents at the U.S. border,” Roth said. “But this initiative will succeed only if the Secretary-General provides robust and regular public commentary, and does not shy away from naming abusers.”
More
More
How should we regulate the magic of technology in the 2020s?
This content was published on
Digital technologies offer huge potential, yet serious questions must be resolved over digital governance, especially for AI, writes Jovan Kurbalija.
New Year’s speech: President Keller-Sutter praises Swiss modesty
This content was published on
The Swiss president for 2025, Karin Keller-Sutter, has underlined the importance of compromise and modesty in Swiss politics in her New Year’s address to the nation.
Lindt wins ‘chocolate ball’ legal case against Aldi
This content was published on
Chocolate manufacturer Lindt & Sprüngli has won a legal case against the retailer Aldi Suisse for infringing the trademark rights of its Lindor chocolate balls.
Campaigners want Swiss central bank to hold bitcoin in reserves
This content was published on
Campaigners have launched a people's initiative to oblige the Swiss National Bank (SNB) to hold part of its reserves in bitcoin.
Switzerland welcomes 2025 with fireworks and ice plunges
This content was published on
Fireworks lit up the skies in Switzerland to celebrate New Year's Eve. Some people welcomed the new year by plunging into lakes in freezing temperatures.
This content was published on
After the emergency landing of a SWISS aircraft in Graz last week, inquiries have detected a “previously unknown fault pattern” in an engine.
Appeals filed against new Rottweiler ban in Zurich
This content was published on
Authorities in Zurich say they have received several appeals against a new ban on Rottweilers starting on January 1, 2025.
Record number of start-ups founded in Switzerland in 2024
This content was published on
Almost 53,000 start-ups were registered in 2024, up from 51,500 the previous year, the Institut für Jungunternehmen (IFJ) said on Tuesday.
Russian ambassador praises Swiss openness for dialogue
This content was published on
Sergei Garmonin says Swiss willingness to keep communications channels open is “noticeably better than in a number of other Western countries”.
Swiss researchers help to pinpoint 200-year-old volcanic eruption
This content was published on
Scientists have finally discovered which volcano was behind an 1831 eruption that impacted climate and crops across the world.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss foreign policy prioritises digitalisation
This content was published on
The Swiss government wants to give increasing importance to sustainable development and digitalisation in its foreign policy strategy.
How should we regulate the magic of technology in the 2020s?
This content was published on
Digital technologies offer huge potential, yet serious questions must be resolved over digital governance, especially for AI, writes Jovan Kurbalija.
Swiss reaffirm their commitment to International Geneva
This content was published on
The Swiss authorities want to boost Geneva's role as a centre for global governance and expertise on issues like digitization and migration.
The legal difficulties of online expression in Switzerland
This content was published on
Drawing the line between freedom of expression and discrimination is a nuanced minefield in the age of social media, as a case in Switzerland shows.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.