Session
Organizer 1: Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Organizer 2: Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Organizer 3: Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Organizer 4: Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Organizer 2: Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Organizer 3: Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Organizer 4: Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 1: Nayak Venkatesh , Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 2: Manuvie Ritumbra , Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Naik Raqib Hameed , Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 2: Manuvie Ritumbra , Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Naik Raqib Hameed , Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Format
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: This allows for all participants to share as equal members in the discussion, to learn from one another and to break apart the typical panel or classroom setup where participants, who themselves have significant knowledge of various subject area are talked at.
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: This allows for all participants to share as equal members in the discussion, to learn from one another and to break apart the typical panel or classroom setup where participants, who themselves have significant knowledge of various subject area are talked at.
Policy Question(s)
(1) How can legal structures like the EU's Digital Protection Act (DSA) ensure that social media platforms are held accountable for hate speech? (2) What tools, skills, and resources are needed by average citizens and NGOs to identify and report hate speech in the online space? (3) What are the best practices for civil society to monitor and report Big Tech's activities that threaten democratic values, considering the different contexts of the EU and Global South?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants are not only audience members but actively participate in the workshop, learning practical techniques that they will use in their own work and sharing real-life case studies and experiences for the purpose of helping them improve their documentation of hate speech online. They are invited to bring along real-life examples of borderline or concerning content that they have come across in their own work. In this way, the most relevant content can be reviewed in the group and organisations and individuals receive tailored assistance with reporting content that concerns them.
Description:
From far-right influencers on Facebook who use their online fame to organise attacks against religious minorities to Facebook's business model contributing to genocide in Myanmar, scholars, rights groups, governments, and minority groups are increasingly coming to terms with the role that social media platforms and the online space play in creating an atmosphere where human rights are put under pressure. Even with Community Standards and other self-regulatory mechanisms, Big Tech social media platforms seem unwilling or unable to stem the flow of hate speech and violent and dangerous organisations and individuals on their platforms. Despite business models that encourage extreme content and content moderation which routinely overlooks blatant hate speech; here, most large social media platforms continue to act with impunity. Recent developments in the United States have also made it clear that Big Tech has no intention of proactively respecting human rights, instead looking for loopholes via world leaders who will look the other way. Elsewhere, loose regulations in large markets like India mean that Big Tech's spread of hate speech also proceeds with little intervention. As a result of these processes, hate speech flourishes on social media. This directly affects the most vulnerable, as hateful narratives about them go viral and often result in real-world violence. In this workshop, we present the methodology that we use for our documentation of hate speech and violent incitement on Facebook and YouTube- helping participants from a variety of backgrounds get used to reporting and tackling hate speech in the online space. Our speakers offer their rich expertise and hands-on experience in dealing with, reporting, and resolving hateful content online as researchers, lawyers, and activists. With our updated guide, we give participants the practical tools to create and defend virtual spaces as active citizens!
From far-right influencers on Facebook who use their online fame to organise attacks against religious minorities to Facebook's business model contributing to genocide in Myanmar, scholars, rights groups, governments, and minority groups are increasingly coming to terms with the role that social media platforms and the online space play in creating an atmosphere where human rights are put under pressure. Even with Community Standards and other self-regulatory mechanisms, Big Tech social media platforms seem unwilling or unable to stem the flow of hate speech and violent and dangerous organisations and individuals on their platforms. Despite business models that encourage extreme content and content moderation which routinely overlooks blatant hate speech; here, most large social media platforms continue to act with impunity. Recent developments in the United States have also made it clear that Big Tech has no intention of proactively respecting human rights, instead looking for loopholes via world leaders who will look the other way. Elsewhere, loose regulations in large markets like India mean that Big Tech's spread of hate speech also proceeds with little intervention. As a result of these processes, hate speech flourishes on social media. This directly affects the most vulnerable, as hateful narratives about them go viral and often result in real-world violence. In this workshop, we present the methodology that we use for our documentation of hate speech and violent incitement on Facebook and YouTube- helping participants from a variety of backgrounds get used to reporting and tackling hate speech in the online space. Our speakers offer their rich expertise and hands-on experience in dealing with, reporting, and resolving hateful content online as researchers, lawyers, and activists. With our updated guide, we give participants the practical tools to create and defend virtual spaces as active citizens!
Expected Outcomes
We expect the event to end with participants now having the tools needed to correctly locate, identify, and report hate speech on their chosen channels of choice. They will also know to whom they can report this hate speech and receive direct assistance with difficult cases if they have struggled with tackling hate speech in the past. Participants will also leave the workshop with knowledge of the political and legal structures relevant for their work and cases of hate speech they have come across.
Hybrid Format: We have held several hybrid (and online) events, including an earlier version of this workshop. We have had good experiences using online quiz apps like Kahoot! to keep audiences engaged and responding to questions, and of course, opening the floor to (virtual) raised hands and questions throughout the event ensures that the audience participates actively. As this is a hands-on workshop, it is designed to engage all participants directly and will proceed with their contributions included, making it easier for all to engage equally, even if attending online.