Cabinet starts national dialogue on online discrimination and hate

The cabinet is starting a societal dialogue on online discrimination and hate. The talks are meant to lead to concrete policy advice and more awareness. The dialogue is part of the wider Plan van aanpak tegen online discriminatie, the government's action plan against online discrimination.

What changes for you

• Anyone can take part online at Praatmeemetdeoverheid.nl, fully anonymously.
• You can sign up on the same site for physical meetings around the country. If more people sign up than there are places, lots are drawn.
• The dialogue runs until the end of 2027.

Online, people can react to statements and suggest topics themselves. At the physical panel and dialogue meetings, participants share experiences and discuss solutions in smaller groups.

According to CBS, the national statistics office, more than 580,000 people were victims of online discrimination or hate in 2024. Over half of Dutch people aged 15 and older saw negative, discriminatory or insulting messages on social media that year.

Wat niet normaal is, mag nooit normaal worden.Staatssecretaris Aerdts (Digitale Economie en Soevereiniteit): "What is not normal must never become normal."

The dialogue was started on the initiative of Aerdts, the state secretary for digital economy and sovereignty. Aerdts said discrimination does not belong in society, online either, and that people still run into it too often.

The results will go into a public report with concrete policy advice. The government will also examine whether Praatmeemetdeoverheid.nl can be used for large-scale citizen participation on other topics. The platform was launched in September. The government says that, unlike on social media, algorithms do not decide which messages users see.

The wider plan also includes measures for better victim support and reporting facilities, strict enforcement, awareness and activating bystanders.