Hate speech and online defamation

Session title: Hate speech and its consequences for human rights online

Session subject: An examination of how multi stakehoder internet governance does or does not take into account human rights online, specifically with regard to hate speech issues

Session description: The Internet has become a global space for creativity, communication and participation. Online, we can create, share and use media content in a variety of ways and with very little effort. This is even more the case on social networks, where we can upload, forward, comment or promote contents. Internet users, and young people in particular, have a right to perceive their online interactions as benefitting from the freedoms of expression and information. Consequently they should expect what is communicated online to be uncensored. However, reality tells us that the online world is also a space where the values of human rights are often ignored or violated. Among others, hate speech online has become a major form of human rights abuse, with very serious consequences for people, both online and offline. Young people are directly concerned as victims, targets, active and passive agents. But hate speech affects all of society. Hate speech as such is not a new human rights issue. However, its online dimension and the potential negative impact on democratic development give new reasons for concern. One of these reasons is that the online manifestation of hate speech is difficult to monitor, measure and counter.

A debate/discussion on the responsibilities of all stakeholdrs in the internet - users, governments, civil society, social network corporations, governments etc. in this regard.The European Union's Fundamental Rights Agency will be presenting their findings on cyber hate, including harassment and hate speech, from the latest FRA surveys (LGBT survey, Violence against women survey, Discrimination and hate crime against Jews). The surveys asked about offensive, threatening comments in person, sent by emails, sms and through social networking People:

• Focal point: Bridget O’Loughlin, Council of Europe
• Live moderator: Bridget O'Loughlin
• Rapporteur: tbd - an activist in the No Hate Speech Online Campaign
• Remote participation moderator: tbd
• Digital facilitator: Janina
• Panelists/speakers: Satu Valtere, Finnish National Campaign co-ordinator of the No Hate Speech Movement; Government representative, Academic , Social media industry representative(s), Youth stakeholder, NHSM campaign online activist(s); representative of Human Rights Campaigning Organisation tbc
• Participants: tbc

Format of this working group at EuroDIG: Workshop/Debate Protocol. Discussions: EtherPad | Google Doc

See also the discussion tab on the upper left side of this page

Further reading: consult our site: http://www.nohatespeechmovement.org/

Live stream / remote participation: Link

Final report from working group: PDF (approx. 2 weeks after event)

Mailing List: tbc

Preparatory meetings:

• date (venue)
• link (online)

Pictures from working group: Link

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