Online hate speech and incitement linked to the Sudan Conflict
Lex Collective are preparing criminal complaints before French courts concerning online hate speech, ethnic incitement, and gender-based threats disseminated and amplified via social media in the context of the ongoing armed conflict in Sudan. The litigation focuses on digital conduct, including the role of platforms in enabling, hosting, or amplifying harmful content, and on perpetrators located in France who have used online platforms to incite violence and persecution.
Through consultations with affected communities and partnerships with Sudanese-led organisations (Vide Charity and Sudan Human Rights Hub (SHRH)), the project will adopt a victim-centred approach to identify best practices for supporting and representing victims before French courts. This will ensure that the legal strategy reflects victims’ lived experiences, protection needs, and articulated harms, while pursuing remedies such as content removal, accountability of perpetrators, and formal recognition of their suffering.
Online hate speech and incitement linked to the Sudan Conflict
Organisation Name
Lex Collective
Country/Jurisdiction
France and Sudan
Amount Granted
EUR 28,000
Current Status
Ongoing
Description
Lex Collective are preparing criminal complaints before French courts concerning online hate speech, ethnic incitement, and gender-based threats disseminated and amplified via social media in the context of the ongoing armed conflict in Sudan. The litigation focuses on digital conduct, including the role of platforms in enabling, hosting, or amplifying harmful content, and on perpetrators located in France who have used online platforms to incite violence and persecution.
Through consultations with affected communities and partnerships with Sudanese-led organisations (Vide Charity and Sudan Human Rights Hub (SHRH)), the project will adopt a victim-centred approach to identify best practices for supporting and representing victims before French courts. This will ensure that the legal strategy reflects victims’ lived experiences, protection needs, and articulated harms, while pursuing remedies such as content removal, accountability of perpetrators, and formal recognition of their suffering.
"The litigation focuses on digital conduct, including the role of platforms in enabling, hosting, or amplifying harmful content"
Strategic Goal
Encourage courts to engage with the broader context in Sudan and, where applicable, consider avenues of universal jurisdiction.
Contribute to the judicial characterisation of genocidal intent, generating findings that could support future proceedings relating to Sudan before the International Criminal Court or other international/national courts.
Empower victims, create channels for their voices to be heard, and strengthen procedural legitimacy.