Danes shun debate fearing harassment

Almost one-third of Danes skip participating in online public debates due to fears of backlash, a study by the Danish Institute for Human Rights shows, reports Jyllands-Posten. Harassment fears deter individuals, and in the past year, 10% avoided physical public discussions like town meetings for similar reasons. Around a third are concerned about violence and threats. The survey, with responses from 4000 Danes, aimed to assess the state of free speech in Denmark. On Constitution Day, Louise Holck, director of the institute, underscores the impact of self-censorship on democracy and debates, with special concern for skewed discussion from missing voices. Harsher social media discourse is believed to have increased over the past five years, and sensitive topics include religion and immigration. This inaugural survey provides a snapshot without historical comparison but suggests a need for reflection on maintaining democratic conversation.