Imagine creating an Instagram account to follow fitness coaches, but within days the platform floods you with recommendations for antisemitic conspiracy theorists. Or you scroll through TikTok and come across charismatic “rabbis” ostensibly explaining Jewish traditions, but who are in reality AI-generated personas spreading classical antisemitic tropes to millions.
These are not hypothetical scenarios. They are the findings of recent investigations conducted by CAM’s Antisemitism Research Center (ARC). They reveal a profound shift in the nature of online hatred. Antisemitism is no longer solely disseminated by extremists, but is also promoted by recommendation algorithms and amplified by artificial intelligence.
The numbers in Europe are alarming. The ARC documented 2,962 antisemitic incidents across the continent last year, nearly a 50% annual rise, and the threats facing European Jewry have only grown more severe in 2026.
The consequences extend far beyond the digital world. Virtual hatred does not remain online. It fuels intimidation, radicalization, and violence in our streets. The boundary between online speech and offline acts has become increasingly porous.
Yet response by European authorities remains fragmented, while the hatred itself knows no borders.
The Digital Services Act (DSA) was an important first step. It recognizes that platforms must be held accountable not only for illegal content but also for the systemic risks created by their recommendation systems. But legislation without credible enforcement is little more than a declaration of intent.
The reality is that the balance of power has shifted. Large platforms no longer seem deterred by financial penalties. Many now appear willing to absorb the cost of fines rather than fundamentally change business models that reward engagement, even when this means allowing hateful, manipulative, or otherwise harmful materials to circulate. Regulators therefore need not only expertise, independence, and resources, but also enforcement powers strong enough to alter the platforms’ incentives.
We also have to recognize that the era when online platforms could simply remove illegal content after it had gone viral is over. They must continuously assess how their recommendation systems boost toxic content, detect coordinated manipulation and synthetic identities, and provide meaningful access to independent researchers.
To address this new reality, Europe urgently needs stronger operational cooperation. France already has an effective reporting platform through PHAROS (Platform for Harmonization, Analysis, Cross-Checking, and Orientation of Reports), operated by specialized law enforcement officers. Every EU member state should establish a similar mechanism, connected through a European coordination framework. In collaboration with MEP Céline Imart, CAM has called on the European Commission to create the Coordination Network Against Online Racism and Antisemitism (CNORA). By connecting national reporting systems and authorities, CNORA would enable European countries to detect cross-border threats more rapidly, share intelligence in real time, and coordinate responses.
History teaches us that antisemitism is never only about Jews. It is often the first symptom of a broader democratic erosion. If Europe is unable to curb antisemitism online today, it will struggle to contain other social ills tomorrow.
The EU cannot afford to treat the proliferation and normalization of hatred as an inevitable consequence of technological progress. With more stringent enforcement, closer cooperation, and sustained political will, it can build a digital environment that protects both vulnerable communities and the foundational values upon which its strength rests.
The writer is Executive Director of European Affairs for the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM).