A new report from the Institute for Human Rights reveals that nearly a third of Danes refrain from participating in debates on social media out of fear of negative reactions. According to Jyllands-Posten, it is particularly the fear of harassment that keeps people from engaging in comment sections and similar on digital platforms. The study also shows that one in ten Danes in the past year has avoided participating in public debates in physical spaces, such as town hall meetings or demonstrations, due to fear of negative reactions. A significant portion of these, around a third, specifically point to fear of violence and threats as the cause for their hesitation. The purpose of the study has been to map the conditions for freedom of speech in Denmark, and the results indicate a significant concern among Danes about potential negative consequences of speaking out publicly.

Read the danish version here