Handbook of Hate Memes EU publication sparks online backlash

The European Observatory of Online Hate (EOOH) unveiled a 200‑page “Handbook of Hate Memes” on July 7 2022, only to see the announcement tweet deleted after generating 200 likes, 74 retweets and 320 quote‑tweets [1]. The guide, funded by the European Union, catalogued 600 hateful memes across 100 topics, but immediately became a meme itself and faced widespread criticism online.

At a glance

Content and reception

The handbook was intended as an educational resource for law‑enforcement, linguistics, tech and arts professionals [1]. It listed 600 hateful memes organized by 100 topics, with over 50 pages of expert commentary. Know Your Meme (KYM) was cited as the primary source for 13 of those memes, including well‑known images such as “Glowing Laser Eyes” and “Pepe the Frog” [1]. Shortly after release, the EOOH’s Twitter post was removed, and by July 19 2022 the official download link had vanished, though re‑uploads persisted online [1].

Online reaction was swift and mocking. Users on Twitter, 4chan’s /pol/ board, and Kiwi Farms posted critiques, memes, and polls. A July 14 tweet used the “Dogs Playing Poker” painting to mock the guide, while a July 16 4chan post called it “obviously psyop bait” [1]. A Kiwi Farms thread titled “The European Union's Handbook of Hate Memes” recorded over 100 votes—98 % in favor of “enjoying” a hate meme from the book—within two days [1]. Critics described the publication as “anti‑meme propaganda” and an “obvious attempt by people who aren’t true meme practitioners” [1].

Distribution and legacy

The handbook’s distribution relied on a Google Form that provided a download link to an HD copy; the form was later deleted, but the file remains accessible via re‑uploads on platforms like the Internet Archive [2] and Odysee [3]. The guide’s brief lifespan on official channels, combined with the meme community’s rapid appropriation, turned the handbook itself into a subject of meme culture rather than a deterrent tool.

What to watch

• Re‑uploads: Monitor major archive sites (Internet Archive, Odysee) for new versions or annotations that could influence future discourse.
• Policy references: Track any EU or member‑state statements that cite the handbook when discussing online hate regulation.
• Meme‑community response: Watch for spikes in meme creation referencing the handbook, which may signal broader cultural pushback or adoption.

The handbook’s swift backlash highlights the challenge of confronting online hate through static documentation; its own meme‑driven notoriety suggests that future efforts may need more dynamic, community‑engaged approaches to be effective.