KRAKOW, Poland — To confront the evolving challenges of antisemitism, the World Jewish Congress (WJC), with support from the European Union, convened its Special Envoys and Coordinators Combating Antisemitism (SECCA) Forum on Tuesday in Krakow. The event provided a collaborative platform for government officials, Jewish community representatives and global experts.
The forum, which focused on harnessing new technologies to combat hate and Holocaust distortion, followed the official commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, a poignant reminder of the importance of Holocaust education and remembrance in the fight against hatred.
Attendees of the forum included dozens of government representatives and international organizations that shared their priorities for combating antisemitism in their respective regions. Chaired by Katharina von Schnurbein, the tEuropean Commission's coordinator on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, discussions underscored the critical need for cross-border cooperation to address the rising threats of antisemitism and Holocaust distortion, both online and in society.
A centerpiece of the event was the direct engagement with representatives from Meta, TikTok and X. These tech leaders participated in discussions on fighting automated hate speech, addressing the rapid evolution of harmful content post-October 7, and leveraging generative AI to mitigate online hate. The conversations emphasized accountability, transparency and the importance of adapting content-moderation practices to meet emerging challenges.
“As the world continues to grapple with antisemitism on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, we are grateful for our partnership with the World Jewish Congress and the work that we have done together to combat Holocaust denial and antisemitism,” said Nell McCarthy, Vice President, Trust & Safety, Meta. “This includes our partnership redirecting anyone who searches about the Holocaust or Holocaust denial to the WJC/UNESCO website aboutholocaust.org. We recognize the role that we can play in fulfilling the promise of Never Again and we appreciate the invitation to participate in the SECCA Forum to hear voices of Jewish communities from around the world in this critical time.”
Valiant Richey, Global Head of Outreach and Partnerships, Trust & Safety, TikTok, said, “We're honored to partner with the World Jewish Congress in the fight against antisemitism online. We share WJC’s commitment to remembrance and education, which are critical to preventing hate and fostering common ground, and have connected more than three million people on our platform to facts about the Holocaust from WJC.”
Wifredo Fernandez, Head of US & Canada Government Affairs, X, said, “X was honored to participate in the 80th Anniversary Commemoration of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and grateful for the opportunity to participate in the 12th International SECCA meeting, where we discussed our work in combating antisemitism. We look forward to continued collaboration with the World Jewish Congress and the Special Envoys and Coordinators on this critical challenge.”
In addition, WJC’s Technology and Human Rights Institute (TecHRI) presented findings from its Human vs. AI: Comparison of Online Antisemitism Experience study. The research examined the experiences of two Jewish individuals targeted by online hate, comparing their assessments of antisemitic content with those of generative AI systems, ChatGPT and Claude. The study highlighted both the limitations of AI in understanding contextual nuances and its potential to detect antisemitism more effectively when adequately trained.
“When technology companies engage directly with Jewish communities it enables them to fully understand the real-world impact of online hate and misinformation. Collaboration is essential to developing tech-based solutions that can effectively mitigate risks and prevent harm. This can be done through the responsible use of AI and enforcement of already existing policies,” said TecHRI Executive Director Yfat Barak-Cheney.
“Having representatives from Meta, X and TikTok in one room today underscores the commitment of these platforms to listen, learn and take actionable steps to address the challenges we face together,” she added.
The forum also featured thought-provoking contributions from experts that included TecHRI advisory council members Prof. Yuval Shany and Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, as well as Dr. Rob Williams, the Finci-Viterbi Executive Director of USC Shoah Foundation, and Hannah Rose of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. They shared insights on regulating online hate speech and protecting vulnerable communities, emphasizing collaborative policymaking; the enforcement of best practices; and the essential role of partnerships between civil society, governments and the private sector.
Separately, prominent global leaders including Miguel Ángel Moratinos, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, introduced the UN Action Plan to combat antisemitism, while Poland’s Deputy Minister of Justice Dariusz Mazur outlined that country’s National Strategy and priorities for its upcoming EU presidency. Alice Nderitu, former UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, also addressed the group.
The SECCA Forum continues to serve as a vital platform for fostering dialogue, promoting innovative approaches and advancing the global fight against antisemitism.
About SECCA
The Special Envoys and Coordinators Combating Antisemitism (SECCA) forum was established by the World Jewish Congress to promote international collaboration, share best practices and assess progress in combating antisemitism. SECCA includes government officials, Jewish community representatives, and organizations such as the European Commission, IHRA and UNESCO. SECCA activities are co-funded by the European Union.
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