Terrorist web content

Addressing the dissemination of terrorist content online

With the enactment of Regulation (EU) 2021/784 on dealing with the dissemination of terrorist content online, the European Union has established a clear legal framework for the swift and effective removal of terrorist content from the internet. The aim is to ensure the smooth functioning of the digital single market in an open and democratic society and to prevent the misuse of hosting services for terrorist purposes. In this way, it contributes to public security across the European Union.

At national level, the implementation of the regulation is regulated by the Law on the implementation of the Regulation (EU) on tackling the dissemination of terrorist content on the Internet (Official Journal of the Republic of Slovenia, No 95/24), which also grants certain competences to the Agency in the field of security and preventive counter-terrorism. The Agency is therefore the competent authority for identifying the exposure of roaming providers to terrorist content and for monitoring the implementation of the Regulation.

The Agency's enforcement and monitoring tasks are mainly related to web hosting providers in the Republic of Slovenia for which the Agency identifies potential exposure to terrorist content. If the Agency finds that a hosting provider has been exposed to such content, it issues a decision ex officio requiring the exposed provider to take specific measures to protect its services. The second part of the Agency's tasks involves screening and detecting potential terrorist content online. The removal of such content is decided by the competent court in Nova Gorica, and the Agency submits a request for a removal order to the court. The Agency can do this both on the basis of a complaint and if it detects terrorist content online itself.

The Agency is also an offence-finding authority in this area, as it can impose a fine on a hosting provider if it breaches its obligations under the Regulation.

In its work, the Agency exchanges information with the competent authorities in other EU Member States and, where appropriate, with Europol, using the tools Europol has set up to facilitate the processing of takedown orders. The Agency reports on its work to the Ministry for Digital Transformation, which in turn reports to the European Commission.

The Agency shall carry out its tasks in an objective, non-discriminatory and independent manner, with full respect for fundamental rights and the fundamental importance of freedom of expression, information and media pluralism, including the freedom to receive and impart conscience or ideas in an open and democratic society.