AdobeStock@Дмитрий Ногаев
22
January
2026

Regulating online terrorist content – Balancing public safety and fundamental rights

Online terrorist content is a threat to fundamental rights, rule of law and democracy. EU measures to tackle such content aim to prevent terrorism while upholding these values. FRA’s report looks at how online terrorist content is detected and removed under EU legislation. It highlights challenges in interpreting rules, risks of over-removal and potential impacts on freedom of expression. It finds that moderation practices by authorities and platforms can disproportionately affect certain groups, such as Muslims and Arabic speakers, while far-right content often receives less scrutiny. The findings, based on research and expert interviews with those addressing online terrorist content, offer ways to improve transparency in content moderation and to better balance public security and fundamental rights, contributing to wider debates on regulating online content responsibly.


  • CharterEuropean Union Charter of Fundamental Rights
  • CJEUCourt of Justice of the European Union
  • DSADigital Services Act
  • ECHREuropean Convention on Human Rights
  • ECtHREuropean Court of Human Rights
  • EDPSEuropean Data Protection Supervisor
  • EUEuropean Union
  • EuropolEuropean Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation
  • FRAEuropean Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
  • GIFCTGlobal Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism
  • HSPhosting service provider
  • PERCIEU Platform on Illicit Content Online
  • TCOTerrorist Content Online
  • UNUnited Nations