In an effort to discuss and examine conditions surrounding freedom of expression, the Minister of Culture and Equality Abid Raja presented a new committee set up by the previous minister Trine Skei Grande. But while the committee of 18 has members from a broad spectrum of society, it has been criticised for only having two members from ethnic minorities.
The committee will revise the current legal framework and suggest changes needed to meet challenges posed by the social media and the internet. Professor Ragna Aarli who co -wrote a report on freedom of speech and responsibilities in 2011 says there is more diversity in the public debate than before and that poses new challenges. It is much easier to spread hate speech now than in 2011 and it’s more difficult to get access to public documents than before due to automatization of processes. Aarli is concerned about new technology opening up more avenues to abuse the system.
Some critics worry about the conditions of freedom of speech and don’t think a new committee id necessary. Professor Emeritus of Media and Communication at the University of Oslo Helge Rønning who was a member of the previous committee on freedom of expression 1996-1999 says : ´That someone feels violated can´t make us put limitations on freedom of speech. That is dangerous´. The crux of the matter seems to be exactly that, ´freedom of expression´ and its position as a human right in Norwegian society fails to protect minorities as anyone seems to be able to do and say whatever they like.
In a recent report, the Police Security Service said that individual politicians at the national as well as the local level were at high risk of being attacked on social media. PST also warned that radical right extremists were as much of a risk to Norway as Islamists and that they see politicians as enemies and ´part of the problem´.
In this context, it is very worrying that the three men from the NRM were allowed to walk free in Kristiansand. In 2018, CERD raised concerns over right wing extremist- and neo- Nazi organisations in Norway who had a more visible presence in the media and on the street. CERD was also concerned about elected politicians using hate-speech and urged the government to introduce measures to improve awareness, education and prohibition of racist organisations in the country. In 2019, NRM split and for now it seems unlikely that they would muster any strong presence online or offline on their own, at least for the time being.
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Mette Wiggen | Radio Free (2020-09-03T08:03:29+00:00) Is it now ok to drape swastikas around town?. Retrieved from https://www.radiofree.org/2020/09/03/is-it-now-ok-to-drape-swastikas-around-town/
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