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DCU research on online racist speech launched by Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
DCU research on online racist speech launched by Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission

DCU research on online racist speech launched by Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission

New research carried out by Dublin City University entitled, 'Hate Track – Tracking and Monitoring Hate Speech Online' which uses computational methods to understand online racist speech in the Irish context was launched on Wednesday (November 28th) by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.

The experimental research was funded by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and the Irish Research Council, and was carried out by DCU academics Dr Eugenia Siapera, Dr James O'Higgins Norman and Dr Suzanne Little.

The research brings forward a tool for identification and tracking of hate materials on certain social media channels. It takes a preliminary look on material collected over a period of 3 months, and it explores reporting barriers and cultures that feed into decisions to report or not report online hate speech.

The tool is intended to determine the current state of the digital public sphere, as opposed to being a censorship or removal tool. The research publication was part of an event 'A More Social Media: Human Rights and Equality in the Digital Public Sphere', organised by the Irish Human Rights Commission in its role as Ireland’s national human rights and equality body, brought together international experts and commentators from the worlds of law, media, academia and the tech sector to focus attention on online hate speech in the Irish context, and to enable a stronger preventive approach to the rise of inflammatory racist online speech at the Science Gallery, Dublin.

Attendees heard from international experts including Dr Eugenia Siapera, School of Communications, Dublin City University, Dr. Tarlach McGonagle, University of Amsterdam Institute for Information Law, Siobhán Cummiskey, Facebook’s Head of Content Policy and Emma Dabiri, BBC broadcaster and writer.

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (“The Commission”) has called for Ireland to show international leadership in combatting the rise of online hate speech.

Emily Logan, Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission stated:

“The potential for intolerance online to shape the public debate – and resulting political debate – offline is becoming one of the hallmarks of the digital age.

“While there is no doubt that the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989 is not fit for purpose and should be modernised, a legislative refresh is not the only solution to tackle online intolerance.

“Cultural change is possible, and new norms can be established – particularly by those with power and influence.

“Ireland needs leadership from across society to play a more discernible role in preventing the spread of online intolerance.”