Free Speech, Not a ‘Free Pass’
Hate speech and its impact on society are not new. The scale and impact are increasing due to the emergence of new modes of communication and reaching out to people. It is a global phenomenon. The UN launched “The International Day for Countering Hate Speech,” which is observed on 18 June yearly. Any communication discriminating against a person or a group based on who they are can be hate speech. Hate crimes are rising and at an alarming pace. It is a double-edged sword. Newer communication technologies like social media enable activists to work for democracy and hate groups. One of the crime reports indicates a ~45% increase in cases of hate speech in India. In many cases, WhatsApp groups play a crucial role in disseminating such information. It is the time to change. There is a need for social media giants to enhance accountability and curb the spread of hate speech. Major companies handling social media agree to strengthen accountability and give a glimmer of hope. Speak up and Be Mindful.
We are far from powerless in the face of hate speech. We can and must raise awareness about its dangers and work to prevent and end it in all its forms.
António Guterres, UN Secretary-General
Hate speech and its impact on society are not new. The scale and impact are increasing due to the emergence of new modes of communication and reaching out to people. It is a global phenomenon. It is time to take steps to check and prevent them; otherwise, the development and upliftment of people experiencing poverty will be at stake. Responding to the alarming developments and growing hatred in the world, the UN launched the strategy and plan of action on 18 June 2019. Subsequently, the UN passed a resolution proclaiming 18 June as “The International Day for Countering Hate Speech,” observed for the first time in 2022. “No Hate Speech Week” is also observed from June 17-20, 2024.
What can be called hate speech? There is no universal definition of the same. Any communication discriminating against a person or a group based on who they are can be hate speech. Going beyond legislation requires a holistic approach and focus on prevention. Hatred speech is sadly nothing new. New communications technologies are amplifying the scale and impact. Hate speech, primarily online, has become more accessible to spread division among humans. Online hate speech is emerging as an unstoppable tide.
Hate crimes are rising and at an alarming pace. One of the crime reports indicates a ~45% increase in cases of hate speech in India. UP, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra had the highest number of cases, with Manipur, Sikkim, Arunachal, and Telangana having the highest rates of such crimes. MP, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram saw a significant rise in hate speech cases during the recent elections. One of the agencies working for democratic reforms reports that more than 100 lawmakers (MPs and MLAs) are on the offenders list.
The legal response is essential, but it is not enough.
Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General.
It is a double-edged sword. Newer communication technologies like social media enable activists to work for democracy and hate groups. In many cases, WhatsApp groups play a crucial role in disseminating such information. The social media posts and other online speech lead to acts of violence. In the first three months of this year, Facebook removed ~10 million posts for violating its hate speech policy. X (Twitter) says it has removed 3.8 million tweets during the period, and an increase of 26% in the demand for removing the content. These demands mostly come from Japan, India, Russia, Turkey and South Korea. Nations are finding ways to restrict the use of media to spread hate. The US empowers social media companies to manage the content and enforce hate speech rules. Others, including Germany, can force companies to remove posts within specific periods. The challenge is that many of these legislations date back to the pre-internet era. As an individual, there are ways one can contribute by taking a stand against the spread of hate speech and can make a difference.
There is a need for social media giants to enhance accountability and curb the spread of hate speech. It is the time to change. Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Sundar Pichai, Tim Cook, “and CEOs of other social media platforms” discussed including accountability, social responsibility and ethics in their business model, giving a glimmer of hope.
Speak up and Be Mindful.
Pause, Fact-Check, Educate,
Challenge, Support and Report.
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Logs: M Sai Baba
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