Zooming in on Hate

We are joined by Peter Kovács from Subjective Values Foundation, an organisation based in Hungary that was founded in 2002. Peter, who has been with the organisation for nearly six years, discusses his work as the head of the project department, focusing on providing young people with opportunities to realise creative ideas, promoting cultural diversity, and supporting education for underprivileged youth. Peter shares insights into Hungary’s online media landscape, highlighting the challenges of online hate speech and the importance of critical thinking. He emphasises that bystanders should play an active role in supporting victims of cyberbullying and hate, noting that reporting hateful content alone is not enough. Facebook is identified as one of the most problematic platforms in Hungary, with older generations perpetuating much of the online hate, whereas younger generations on platforms like TikTok are more likely to intervene and stand up for victims. Peter also discusses some of the impactful campaigns his organisation has run, which highlighted the experiences of Hungarian influencers from minority groups facing online hate. The campaign was a success, even winning the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Change Maker Award in 2022. Peter reflects on the crucial role influencers play in setting positive examples for young people and addressing cyberbullying. In his closing remarks, Peter shares practical advice for aspiring influencers, emphasising the importance of responsibility, critical thinking, and staying true to oneself. He also shares his wish to end anonymous online profiles, as he believes linking online identities to real-life individuals would significantly reduce trolling and hateful behaviour.

We are joined by Andrea Cox from Digital Intelligence. Together, we explore the work of her NGO, founded in 2017 in Slovakia, which focuses on promoting digital citizenship. Andrea emphasises the importance of using technology wisely and safely, integrating digital skills with the values needed to build a healthy society. We delve into the specific challenges Slovakia faces in combating online hate, especially the disconnect between how Slovaks perceive themselves as welcoming and the reality of hate spreading through social media. Andrea explains how online spaces, initially created around innocent hobbies, have been co-opted to promote political agendas and hate speech, highlighting the complexities of navigating these environments. Our conversation touches on the significant role education plays in addressing these issues. Andrea discusses the recent curriculum reform in Slovakia aimed at better preparing students for the digital age, though she notes that its full impact may take years to be fully realized. She shares examples of successful educational initiatives like the “Cyber for Kids” program and “Digi Peers,” which involve volunteers educating thousands of children across Slovakia on digital safety and critical thinking. Andrea underscores the importance of media literacy, critical thinking, empathy, and resilience as essential skills for resisting radicalisation and disinformation. We also discuss the impact of anonymity on online behavior, recognizing both its risks and the potential positives, such as the ability to explore identity in a safe environment. We conclude the episode with Andrea advocating for multi-stakeholder collaboration, emphasising that no single group—whether civil society, tech companies, law enforcement, or policymakers—can tackle these issues alone. She shares her vision for a world where empathy is nurtured through games, books, and collaborative activities, which she believes could play a crucial role in reducing hate speech.

Disclaimer This podcast was recorded before October 7, 2023, and does not reflect the events that occurred on, and after this date. In this episode, we are joined by Tomer Aldubi from FOA (Fighting Online Anti-Semitism). Tomer provides an overview of FOA’s work, highlighting its efforts to combat online anti-Semitism since its establishment. FOA focuses on monitoring and removing anti-Semitic content across various online platforms and training volunteers to report harmful content. Tomer discusses the intersection of online hate with societal issues such as political events and social crises. He emphasises the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration, involving social media platforms, governments, NGOs, and other organisations to effectively combat online hate. He shares FOA’s innovative approach, including training volunteers from diverse backgrounds and focusing on lesser-known platforms where harmful content often goes unnoticed.

In this episode we are joined by Maia Feijoo from LICRA, the International League Against Racism and Anti-Semitism. Maia provides an overview of LICRA's work in France, highlighting its longstanding history since its inception in 1927, initially focused on anti-Semitism before expanding to combat all forms of racism. LICRA's activities include educational trainings in schools and police academies, legal support for victims of racism and anti-Semitism, and corporate trainings. Maia discusses the intersection of online hate with societal issues such as political events and social crises. She cites examples like the French presidential elections and the migrant crisis in Lampedusa, which saw significant spikes in online hate speech. She also highlights the role of algorithms in perpetuating hate, as they tend to amplify the content users engage with, creating a harmful feedback loop.

In this episode we delve into the issue of image-based sexual violence with special guests Andrea Powell and Inês Marinho. Both guests are part of the Reclaim Coalition, a collective endeavour aimed at combating online image-based sexual violence. In the conversation, Andrea and Inês share their personal experiences as survivors and discuss the challenges and initiatives in addressing this pervasive problem. They highlight the lack of awareness, ineffective legal frameworks, and the normalisation of online misogyny as key obstacles. Despite these challenges, they also shed light on positive developments, such as increasing legislative efforts, innovative tech solutions, and growing recognition of survivor advocacy. The episode underscores the importance of consent, education, and community engagement in creating a safer online environment for everyone.

In our interconnected world, hate speech and intolerance have become all too common, leaving many wondering: why do people hate? Delving into this pressing question, we recently sat down with Arun Mansukhani, a clinical psychologist based in Spain. Through our conversation, we explored the underlying reasons behind hate and discussed actionable steps to combat it effectively. Arun Mansukhani brings a wealth of expertise in trauma psychology and a deep understanding of human behaviour to our discussion. He shed light on the inherent dichotomous thinking ingrained in our brains, leading us to categorise the world into in-groups and out-groups. This natural inclination, fuelled by our need for belonging, often serves as a breeding ground for intolerance. Online anonymity amplifies these divisions, providing individuals with a shield to spew hate without accountability. Arun underscored the importance of empathy in curbing destructive behaviour, emphasising how physical closeness fosters emotional connection and understanding. However, the digital realm's lack of proximity makes it challenging to cultivate empathy, allowing hatred to flourish unchecked. Not everyone harbours the capacity for psychopathic behaviour. While a small percentage exhibit consistent psychopathic traits, most individuals exist on a spectrum, capable of both empathy and intolerance depending on circumstances. Factors such as perceived threats, group dynamics, and emotional responses further shape one's propensity for hate. To combat hate, Arun proposed practical strategies aimed at fostering empathy and bridging divides: Information Dissemination: While informative, merely presenting facts often fails to sway entrenched beliefs due to cognitive biases, so we need education on a deeper level. Public Demonstrations: Protests and public displays can empower marginalised groups but may inadvertently strengthen extreme viewpoints. Intergroup Contact: Facilitating meaningful interactions between diverse communities fosters empathy and reduces prejudice. Building bridges and fostering understanding through dialogue and shared experiences emerge as potent antidotes to hate. Despite the challenges posed by online hate, Arun remains optimistic about humanity's capacity for progress. He highlighted gradual advancements in civil rights, LGBTQ+ acceptance, and gender equality as testament to society's evolving attitudes. While change may be incremental, collective efforts to foster empathy and combat hate are paving the way for a more inclusive and compassionate world.

In the latest episode of "Zooming In on Hate," we are joined by Louisa Klingvall from the European Commission, recorded live at INACH's Annual Conference. The dialogue provides a nuanced exploration of the European Union's role in combatting the complex issue of online hate. Louisa Klingvall has worked in the Fundamental Rights Unit of the European Commission DG Justice since 2012. Her main focus of work comprises fundamental rights aspects  in the Commission's Digital Single Market files. In this capacity she has been closely involved in the Commissions work on illegal content, disinformation, the Digital ServiceS Act and the Artificial Intelligence Act.  She is a team leader charged with ensuring the overall coordination of the anti-racism team and consistency of legal and policy outputs and of the team managing the Code of Conduct on Illegal Hate Speech Online. It is important to note that her views in this epidode are shared in a personal capacity, not as a representative of the European Commission. Our conversation delves into the multifaceted nature of online hate, debunking the notion that it is an impossible concept to define. Louisa categorises it into two main types: hate speech reaching criminal law benchmarks and non-criminal forms of hate speech or stereotyping. The distinction lies in the response mechanism, with criminal forms requiring removal and prosecution, while non-criminal forms necessitate counter speech and civic engagement. Tech companies play a crucial role in combatting online hate, with a significant focus on collaboration between platforms and civil society. Louisa highlights the success of the Code of Conduct in shaping content moderation practices. This collaborative approach has influenced the Digital Services Act (DSA), reflecting a broader societal engagement model. The interview touches upon the influence of cultural and political contexts on the prevalence of online hate. Louisa acknowledges that manifestations are coloured by history, traditions, and political landscapes, emphasising the need for more research to understand the impact of these factors on counter policies. Louisa also commends the relentless work of civil society in protecting victims and promoting tolerance. She sees promise in the intersection of technology with sociology, psychology, and mental health, as tech companies explore evidence-based models for effective counter-narratives. Looking toward the future, Louisa expresses optimism about the DSA, citing its potential to strike a balance in shaping an online environment through broad societal consensus. The DSA recognises that top-down solutions are insufficient and emphasises the importance of societal engagement in addressing issues like hate speech and disinformation. This episode provides a thought-provoking glimpse into ongoing efforts to combat online hate, showcasing the evolving strategies and collaborative approaches at the forefront of this critical battle.

Today, we are zooming in on Meaningful Compliance. We are being joined by Claire Pershan, the Mozilla Foundation’s EU Advocacy Lead, currently stationed in Brussels, Belgium. Claire brings a wealth of experience, having previously served as Policy Coordinator at the EU DisinfoLab, focusing on monitoring mis/disinformation and influence operations. Before that, she worked as a Project Manager at Renaissance Numerique, a Paris-based think tank, where her focus was on content moderation and cyberviolence. Claire has also made significant contributions to the European Commission Joint Research Center's work on Hybrid Threats in the Information Domain and served as a content expert for Internews, examining the influence of new technologies on civic space. Many of us are familiar with Mozfest, but today, we're keen to learn more about the broader scope of work that the Mozilla Foundation undertakes. We'll explore areas of current concern, touching on vital topics such as translating legislative changes into product-level adaptations for all EU countries, browser-level blocking, and the crucial role of research in driving their mission forward.

In this episode we are joined by Rita Jonušaitė who works at EU DisinfoLab as Advocacy Coordinator. Previously Rita worked at the European Youth Forum as Policy and Advocacy Manager and prior to that at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania. At the moment Rita is also pursuing a degree in IP & ICT Law at KU Leuven university. Rita has been primarily following regulatory discussions around disinformation, including negotiations on the Digital Services Act and updated Code of Practice on Disinformation. Rita has also been looking at relevant discussions around media policy (European Media Freedom Act).

In this episode we are joined by Martin Kováč, an Old Catholic priest, theologian, and the project coordinator and programme manager of the cultural-community centre Staré Lýceum in Bratislava. He is a leader of two inclusive Christian communities in Bratislava and Trnava, has dedicated his life to human and minority rights, and is an advocate for the acceptance and rights of LGBTQI+ people. Martin is a pioneer of interfaith dialogue in Slovakia and is dedicated to the rights of religious minorities, working to change discriminatory laws.

In this episode we are joined by Benjamin Fisher, Program Director at the Alfred Landecker Foundation. The Alfred Landecker Foundation is an incubator fordemocracy in the digital age. The foundation uses technological advancements and comprehensive expertise for an open society, a contemporary remembrance of the Holocaust and other Nazi crimes and the fight against antisemitism, racism and group hatred. Benjamin focuses on developing and implementing initiatives with a digital portfolio and on projects addressed to younger generations. Before joining the Foundation, he worked as Chief Digital Officer of the Central Welfare Board of Jews in Germany and as Public Affairs Officer of the European Jewish Congress. He was also a consultant for European NGOs in Brussels and continental Europe in the fields of public affairs, combating online hate and change management. Benjamin served as President of the European Union of Jewish Students, representing its members in front of EU-Institutions, the OSCE and the UNHRC. In addition, he was the founding President of the German Jewish Student Union and was a scholar of the Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich Studienwerk. Benjamin sits on the boards of the World Jewish Museum, the Muslim Jewish Interfaith Coalition and several European initiatives. He studied Politics and Law in Hamburg and currently pursues a Executive MBA at Central European University in Vienna.

Our 16th episode is a very special one, focussing on online radicalisation and deradicalisation. This episode was recorded at the 6TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE “CIVIC ACTORS IN CONFLICT" hosted by PDCS on November 9th in Bratislava, Slovakia.  Our friend Marie Heřmanová hosted a very interesting panel discussion, looking into the world of online radicalisation and de-radicalisation, discussing trends, threats and solutions to explore the current developments of online mobilisation and radicalisation, also related to the war in Ukraine. She was joined by Julia Ebner, a Senior Research Fellow at Institute for Strategic Dialogue, specialising in far-right extremism, radicalisation, viral disinformation, conspiracy myths and terrorism prevention.  Julia advises parliamentary working groups, security agencies and tech firms, and delivers lectures in schools and universities. She acted as a consultant on counter-terrorism for the United Nations.  You might know her from her books The Rage: The Vicious Circle of Islamist and Far-Right Extremism, or her second book Going Dark: The Secret Social Lives of Extremists. She was also joined by Olivier Cauberghs, a researcher at Textgain, a member of the Expert Pool of the RAN (Radicalisation Awareness Network) and CEPOL (The European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training).

In this episode we are joined by Moussa Bourekba. He is a Research Fellow at the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB) and adjunct professor at Blanquerna Faculty of Communication and International Relations and at the University of Barcelona, where he teaches international relations in the MENA region, terrorism and violent radicalisation. Prior to joining CIDOB, he was junior research fellow at the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed, Barcelona). He also worked as a consultant for the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI, Paris).   At CIDOB, Moussa focuses on international relations in the MENA region, democratisation processes in North Africa, violent extremism and Islamophobia. His research also covers Islamophobia in Europe. His past projects include EU-funded FP-7 SAHWA, and several Horizon 2020 projects such as EU-LISTCO, CASCADES and BRIDGES. Moussa is completing his PhD on Spanish strategies to prevent violent extremism at the University of Barcelona.

Welcome to the Holiday special of Zooming in on Hate. This past year has been a turmoil of events. And some pretty dark ones at that. We started the year off in a lockdown, of course there is still a war raging in Ukraine, there have been multiple hate crime shootings all over the world, and people are facing a cost of living crises we haven’t seen in years, wondering if they can even heat their homes this winter.  Normally we would zoom in on those topics.. But this time, in the spirit of the holidays, we’re going to look at some positive stories for a change. Working in the field of hate speech, disinformation and radicalisation we get confronted with the darkest parts of the world wide web. So, it's important to be reminded about the happy, wholesome and inspiring parts from time to time. That’s why we invited Toon Vos to join us today, to talk about the positive sides of the internet. Toon Vos is both a writer and a designer, and has recently produced a wonderful special series titled the Wholesome Wide Web. The Wholesome Wide Web is a voyage to the online strongholds where people come together to meet, talk, share, and play. Places where the promise of the internet is alive and kicking.

In this episode, we speaking to Julia Mozer, EU Public Policy Manager at Twitter and Carlos Hernández-Echevarría Head of Public Policy & Institutional Development, Maldita Spain, about moderation strategies on Twitter, and how to utilise online communities to counter disinformation. This episode was recorded as a live webinar on the 20th of October.

In this episode we are zooming in on the Council of Europe’s actions to counter hate speech in Europe. We are joined by Menno Ettema, who is the Programme Manager at the No Hate Speech and Anti-Discrimination Cooperation unit, Anti-Discrimination Department of the Council of Europe. He was co-secretariat to the Experts Committee that drafted the Committee of Ministers Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)16 on Combating Hate Speech which was adopted in May 2022. In his function he brings together the organisations work on combatting hate speech and discrimination through standards setting, monitoring and capacity building programmes in cooperation with member States and European partners. He previously worked as the European coordinator of the No Hate Speech Movement, a youth campaign of the Council of Europe to mobilise young people for human rights and against hate speech online (2016-17) and as an educational advisor (2010-2015) for the Youth Department of the Council of Europe.

In this episode special episode we are zooming in on the killing of two men outside of a gay bar in Bratislava on the 12th of October in a suspected hate crime. We are joined by Lukáš Zorád, who works for Partners for Democratic Change Slovakia. Lukáš works on projects and initiatives dedicated to prevention of violent extremism, de-polarisation and strives to look for ways to create constructive dialogue and increase understanding between people of opposing values. He is also working with us on shaping the European Observatory of Online Hate.

In this episode we bring together two organisations doing wonderful work in the field of hate speech and diversity. We will be zooming in on LGBTQ+ related hate, and dive into an upcoming conference hosted by INACH on this topic.

How can we disrupt terrorist organisations online? Are social media platforms doing enough? How can CSOs, NGOs and analysts help? In this episode we are joined by Anne Craanen from Tech Against Terrorism to discuss disrupting online terrorism.

The Great Replacement Theory is a white nationalist far-right conspiracy theory that has been inspiring violent attacks such as the Christchurch attack and the Buffalo shooting. In this episode we are joined by Jakob Guhl from Institute for Strategic Dialogue to zoom in on the Great Replacement Theory. Jakob Guhl is a Manager at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), where he mainly works with the digital research team. Jakob has co-authored research reports on Salafism, extreme right terrorism, Holocaust denial, coordinated trolling campaigns, hate speech and disinformation campaigns targeting elections.

Will the new EU Digital Services Act (DSA) have an impact on online hate and disinformation? What are the effects of this new legislation on social media users? What can we expect from the big platforms? In Zooming in on hate we bring together the brightest minds from Law Enforcement, Academia, Civil Society, Policy, Tech and Platforms to thrash out solutions to Hate Speech and Disinformation. In this episode we were joined by Līva and Josephine from HateAid to discuss the Digital Services Act. Līva Vikmane is policy and advocacy officer in HateAid's Brussels office, where she works on strengthening users' rights within the EU's Tech regulations. Her background is in the European studies and public policy, having worked with several NGOs amplifying their policy impact, and currently she is pursuing a Masters degree in Digital Media, Ethics and Social Change. Josephine Ballon is a lawyer and Head of Legal at HateAid, where she advocates to improve the legal framework for those affected from digital violence who are left largely unprotected against violations of their rights on the internet. Ms. Ballon was invited as an expert to the Legal and Digital Committee of the German Bundestag and the European Parliament to comment on legislative proposals of law enforcement against online hate crimes and platform regulation.

This episode focuses on Open-source Intelligence & Fringe Social Media Platforms. We’ll meet with Amra Dorjbayar, data journalist at the VRT, and Olivier Cauberghs, radicalisation and terrorism expert at Textgain.

This podcast delves into the current trends in the world of online influencers in and around the War on Ukraine. Who is getting it right and who is categorically not. Do governments have the right or a duty to steer their content production given the huge columns of disinformation and propaganda being generated by Kremlin bot farms and content production apparatus. The War on Ukraine is still raging as we record this podcast, and it is being mirrored online. There is an unprecedented amount of content being produced, mis and disinformation is flourishing, not to mention propaganda and deep fakes. How do we know who to trust and can we count influencers among those we can? Dare to be Grey’s Hannah Richter and Textgain’s Lydia El-Khouri joined influencer Nathalie Van Raemdonck to find out more about the world of influencers and their role in the war.

We were joined by Xavier Brandao, the co-founder of the #jesuislà collective, which counters online hate and disinformation. This podcast delves into the current trends we are seeing online in France, identifying particular hateful narratives. We discuss the impact of the war in Ukraine and foreign influence, especially that of Russia. We hear how the volunteers of I Am Here International are debunking disinformation, and finally, we end on a positive note, where Xavier explains how he would try to encourage the silent majority to speak out.

This second episode is focussed on the war in Ukraine. We’ll meet with Rafal Pankowski, the co-founder of the Never Again Association, to discuss the impact the war is having on Poland, and Emily Duffy, campaigner and trainer, to talk about reframing narratives surrounding the war in Ukraine.

We spoke with Elsa Court, whose research focuses on the political and sociological transformation of post-2014 Ukraine, to shed some light on the history between Ukraine and Russia, and the divisions between the two countries.

In this first episode we met with Miro Dittrich, the co-founder of the organisation CeMAS, to chat about QAnon in Germany, and Guy De Pauw, CEO of Textgain, on ethical AI as a solution to online hate.