Unpublished trial in Liège: a man tried at the assizes for hate speech against women on Facebook Social networks / At the assizes for hate speech
Most press offenses are dealt with by the Assize Court, and hate speech on social media is also considered a press offence. In recent years, they have multiplied. And obviously prosecuting everyone before an assize court is impossible. "A court of assizes is very cumbersome, there are very few that are organized because it requires resources, if only the constitution of a jury, it is substantial, and therefore we reserve the assize courts usually to more 'bloody' crime", comments Fanny Coton, lawyer and specialist in information technology and media law.
So far, the authors of hate speech on social networks have therefore remained unpunished, they have not been prosecuted. But the lines are moving: for a few years racist or xenophobic remarks have already been judged by a criminal court, and no longer by the assize court. Soon, this could also concern misogynistic remarks or any other form of hate speech. There is talk of revising an article of the constitution to allow this. But there again, impossible to prosecute everyone.
"When we see the mass of hate speech online, justice would have a hard time prosecuting everything, but in any case it would make it possible to prosecute more systematically and perhaps to calm the tone", hopes the lawyer.
The popular jury was appointed this Wednesday: 6 women and 6 men. The trial on the merits begins Monday and is expected to continue for three days.
