The Ministry of the Interior wants to make viewing and disseminating terrorist propaganda punishable. Currently, committing, financing, and preparing terrorist acts are punishable. According to the ministry, current laws are too weak to prevent terrorism.
The ministry says that the state currently has to wait until a person commits a terrorist act or prepares for it. However, terrorist attacks are easier to carry out and plan. Therefore, the ministry wants to change the laws.
Under the new laws, continuous viewing and dissemination of terrorist propaganda would also be punishable. This is not penalized if the material is used for education, art, or science. Additionally, child pornography cannot be viewed in Estonia.
The ministry defines terrorist propaganda as propaganda that is not disseminated by other countries. For example, it includes Russian propaganda. The ministry cites the far-right group Feuerkrieg Division, which recruited new members through propaganda.
This year, three young people were convicted for being members of this group. According to Kapo, such groups want to end capitalism and create a state suitable for the white race.
Young people are the most vulnerable to terrorist propaganda. For example, in France, 70% of detainees suspected of terrorism are under 21 years old.
The ministry wants the viewing of terrorist propaganda to initially be a misdemeanor, not a crime. Although far-right radicalization is a problem, jihadist propaganda is more dangerous.
For example, Abdulrahman Sazanakov went to Syria and fought on the side of terrorists. Far-right radicalization has not led to casualties in Estonia. In Europe, jihadist terrorist attacks are the deadliest.
The ministry believes that the new laws could bring about five new investigations per year for the police. Although the terror threat in Estonia is low, any attack could be very harmful.
The ministry is now gathering opinions on the legislative amendments. If everything goes according to plan, the changes will come into force next year.