Improper conduct on the internet should be punished with a fine similarly to public disturbances, deputy ombudsman Jernej Rovsek told a panel debating ethical behaviour on the internet in Ljubljana on Wednesday.

Rovsek said that public incitement to hate and intolerance on the internet must be prosecuted. Such behaviour needs to result in a punishment for the perpetrator, Rovsek said.

Supreme State Prosecutor Ales Butala said that a serious form of hate speech violated the dignity of an individual and should therefore be treated as an offence to which the police and prosecution needed to respond.

However, Butala doubts that the problem could be solved merely though legal means. "Prevention well as sensible use of communication tools are also important," he added.

President of the republic of Slovenia Danilo Tuerk supported the views of the panel in a video address, labelling any kind of intolerance and hate speech as unconstitutional and unacceptable.

The panel was organised by Safe.si, a portal promoting safe use of the internet, ahead Safer Internet Day on 8 February. The aim was to increase awareness on how actions on the internet may affect people in real life.