Cyprus House Committee discusses new measures against online hate speech

On October 19, 2026, the House Human Rights Committee in Cyprus convened to address the urgent need for enhanced regulation regarding online hate speech. The discussion focused primarily on the management of user comments on social media platforms and the legislative gaps currently existing in the country's legal framework.

To address these issues, the Cyprus Radio-Television and Digital Services Authority has designated the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) and the Mediterranean Digital Media Observatory (MedDMO) as official 'trusted flaggers.' These entities are now authorized to submit priority reports and complaints concerning harmful content directly to social media companies. Aristotelis Konstantinidis, an associate professor of international law, highlighted that while both individual user accounts and news organization pages require regulation, news outlets cannot be expected to monitor their comment sections 24/7. The Authority clarified that media organizations are generally not held responsible for comments posted by third parties on their platforms.

The committee continues to examine how to balance freedom of expression with the need for safer digital environments. Future discussions are expected to focus on further closing the regulatory gaps identified by experts.