Council of Europe Launches €50,000 Hackathon to Combat Online Hate Speech

Council of Europe Launches €50,000 Hackathon to Combat Online Hate Speech

The Council of Europe is inviting interdisciplinary teams to Strasbourg for the “Hack the Hate, Renew Democracy!” hackathon to develop technological solutions against online hate speech. Selected participants will compete for a share of a €50,000 prize fund and receive professional mentorship to implement their digital innovations.

RMN News Democracy Desk
New Delhi | May 22, 2026

Digital Innovation Targets Online Hate

The Council of Europe has opened registrations for the second edition of its Democracy Hackathon, titled “Hack the Hate, Renew Democracy!”, which will take place in Strasbourg from June 17 to 19, 2026. The initiative addresses the growing threat of online hate speech, which silences individuals, curbs civic participation, and erodes the social cohesion necessary for a functioning democracy. This event serves as a milestone for the New Democratic Pact for Europe, focusing on making democratic benefits more tangible through innovative technological tools.

Collaborative Framework and Expert Support

The hackathon will host 80 participants organized into 20 interdisciplinary teams, all of whom will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the event in Strasbourg. These “hackathoners” will have the unique opportunity to collaborate with 120 experts representing national authorities, civil society, and academic institutions to co-create concrete systems and tools. Registration for the event is open to interested teams until June 5, 2026.

Challenge Design and Funding

Participants will tackle one of four specific challenges designed by prominent research organizations and universities, including Democracy Reporting International, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, the Technical University of Munich, and the University of Strasbourg. A jury will evaluate the solutions, with winners from each challenge category competing in a final presentation.

The total prize fund of €50,000 is provided by Microsoft. In addition to the financial awards, winning teams will benefit from post-event implementation support, where seasoned mentors will help transition their prototypes into functional solutions.

Building on Past Success

The 2026 event follows the inaugural Council of Europe Democracy Hackathon held in 2025, which focused on the challenge of disinformation. That first session successfully produced a variety of practical resources, including disinformation detection tools, echo-chamber mitigation measures, and educational kits designed to foster critical thinking. The upcoming hackathon will be held jointly with the third edition of No Hate Speech Week to further integrate academic and practical approaches to renewing democracy.