Ireland took part in a dedicated Europe-wide police operation targeting online anti-semitism, that has “surged” following Israel’s war on Gaza.
The estimated 2,000 items of online content identified included Holocaust denial and the glorification of violence against Jews.
Some 18 countries took part in the operation co-ordinated by Europol, the EU police agency, and comprised both member states of the EU and other European countries, including Ukraine.
Almost 2,000 pieces of online content were referred by Europol to relevant authorities in the 18 countries for removal. Europol said the anti-semitic content was being spread by extremist groups from across the political spectrum, including Islamist, right-wing and left-wing groups.
An Garda Síochána led the investigation in Ireland and carried out operations taking down online anti-semitic content. Garda HQ declined to comment, but it is understood this has resulted in at least one prosecution.
In its statement, Europol said it had successfully concluded what it called a ‘Referral Action Day’ aimed at identifying and combatting anti-semitic content online.
It said the primary objective was to remove illegal content and ensure that online platforms adhered to European regulations concerning hate speech and discrimination.
“The Referral Action Day targeted a wide range of anti-semitic content, including hate speech, Holocaust denial, and the glorification of violence against the Jewish community,” it said.
It said the operation stemmed from “the rise of widespread anti-semitism justified and cultivated in Jihadi-spheres and right-wing, as well as left-wing, extremist groups online”.
It said the content was also spread by non-affiliated individuals on various online platforms.
It said the surge in hate speech was triggered by the October 7 attack by the Hamas terrorist organisation against Israel, in which 1,200 people were killed and 240 hostages taken, and the subsequent Israeli military response, which has seen the death of more than 30,000 people and left more than a million people at risk of starvation.
Europol said the co-ordinated operation, which was led by authorities in Switzerland and the United Kingdom, took place on June 27.
“The operation involved law enforcement agencies from 18 countries, working in tandem with Europol’s European Union Internet Referral Unit (EU IRU) and major online service providers,” it said.
It said that National Internet Referral Units and specialised police units from the following countries took part in this Referral Action Day: Albania, Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.