Study: Maltese are most affected by hate speech in Europe

Of all EU countries, the Maltese are most likely to consider hate speech as a problem affecting them online, according to a recent Eurobarometer report.

Nearly four in ten (39%) Maltese respondents said that online hate speech has a great impact on them, which is almost twice the EU average (22%) and the highest in the EU.

Close behind is Slovenia (37%), followed by Poland (31%) and France (30%), the Eurobarometer Digital Decade report said.

The Maltese are the second most likely to see untrustworthy online sellers as a problem, with a third of Maltese saying such sellers have a major impact on them – six percentage points higher than the EU average (26%).

Only respondents in Finland (34%) felt the impact of untrustworthy sellers was greater, while Hungary and the Czech Republic (both 31%) were close behind Malta.

However, overall, Maltese said they were most affected by the misuse of personal data (52%) and fake news and disinformation (46%), a situation common across Europe.

While the Maltese said they were more affected by the misuse of their personal data than the average European, they noted they were less affected by fake news than people in other parts of the EU.

Meanwhile, unreasonable removal of online content and terrorist content had the least impact on Maltese internet users, with only 7% and 9% of users, respectively, citing these issues as factors that affect them.

Questions about issues affecting online users appeared to indicate the EU was trying to measure the success of its Digital Services Act (DSA), with respondents being asked which issues had the greatest impact on their lives “in the context of the implementation of the Act”.

The DSA is a binding regulation introduced in 2022 for online marketplaces, social networks, app stores, and travel and accommodation platforms. According to the European Commission website, its “primary objective is to prevent illegal and harmful activities online and the spread of false information.”

Overall, Maltese people place a high value on the role of digital technologies in their lives, with at least seven in ten stating that digital technologies will play an important role in a range of civic, personal and professional activities by 2030.

Between 71% and 86% of Maltese people said that digital technologies play an important role in all 10 areas of daily life mentioned in the survey, which is above the EU average in all cases.

Respondents in Malta said that by the end of the decade these technologies will be most important for connecting with family and friends (86%) and accessing public services (84%).

The Maltese appear to have a more positive attitude towards the impact of digital technology, with four in five saying it has made their lives easier.

Nearly nine in 10 (89%) respondents said more widespread and affordable high-speed internet would improve their use of technology, followed by improved internet security (88%).

Meanwhile, more than nine in ten (91%) said they want authorities to ensure AI “respects our rights and values,” while 95% said they want those in power to increase research and innovation.

The Eurobarometer survey is usually conducted twice a year by the European Commission, in April-May and October-November, and aims to obtain information on attitudes towards political and social issues across the European Union.

This special Eurobarometer survey was conducted between March 6 and April 8 and involved interviews with 500 Maltese citizens via computer-assisted video.