Grande-Marlaska advocates for 'anticipation and prevention' to curb the proliferation of violent and xenophobic messages on social media

The Minister for Home Affairs, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, supported the approval of the EU Online Crisis Protocol and advocated for "anticipation and prevention" to curb the proliferation of violent and xenophobic messages on social media. "Acting before an online crisis takes hold is essential to reduce its impact, prevent radicalisation, and protect citizens", he stated during the EU Internet Forum in Brussels.

The minister cited the incidents recorded in 2025 in the town of Torrepacheco (Murcia) as an example of a "swift and effective" intervention. In response to calls for action against migrants on social media, the Intelligence Centre against Terrorism and Organised Crime (CITCO), in coordination with the STate law enforcement forces and agencies, acted "immediately", he specified, notifying the platform involved of the channel used to coordinate violent actions, "which allowed for its removal and contained the escalation".

In the case of Torrepacheco, the "Deport Them Now Spain" channel was removed from Telegram at CITCO's request for violating the platform's terms regarding incitement to violence, while the State law enforcement forces and agencies proceeded to arrest one of the movement's leaders.

During the forum, Grande-Marlaska urged member states to develop the necessary tools to better adapt to the digital environment and appealed for "essential" public-private cooperation to facilitate real-time information sharing and operational coordination. "We are not only facing the broadcasting of attacks, but also complex ecosystems in which terrorist content, violent extremism, and disinformation intertwine and amplify with enormous speed", he added.

The EU Internet Forum was established in 2015 within the European Commission to promote cooperation with digital platforms to reduce terrorist content. Subsequently, in 2019, following the Christchurch attack in New Zealand, the EU Online Crisis Protocol was developed as a mechanism to promote a coordinated and urgent response in critical situations.

The protocol can be activated in the event of attacks or threats with the potential to go viral, allowing Member States and platforms to work together to remove content. So far, it has only been activated once, after the murder of teacher Samuel Paty in 2020 in France.

Child protection, anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred

The Internet Forum also dedicated a roundtable discussion to the protection of minors against terrorism and violent extremism online, an area in which Spain has demonstrated its leadership, as Grande-Marlaska noted in his address. In 2025 alone, CITCO (National Counterterrorism Centre) reported more than 5,000 pieces of terrorist and extremist content to over 100 platforms linked to online gaming environments, the minister explained, "facilitating their swift removal in cooperation with the companies themselves".

The minister also referred to the National Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Combat of Violent Radicalisation, promoted by the Minister, which has developed preventative tools in the educational field and includes teaching guides and training programmes aimed at teachers, school liaison officers, and professionals who work directly with minors.

A second roundtable discussion addressed anti-semitism and anti-Muslim hatred online, two growing phenomena that the minister condemned, acknowledging that these manifestations not only violate fundamental rights but can also act "as vectors of violent radicalisation and a breakdown of social cohesion".

Grande-Marlaska also confirmed Spain's participation in European actions concerning online gaming platforms, where materials such as music with anti-semitic and anti-Muslim messages have been identified that "exceed the threshold of protected speech" and fall under the category of hate crimes according to European law.

Non official translation