Spreading Hate Online: Read Now
August 4, 2020
| By Rabbi Abraham Cooper, SWC Associate Dean & Director, Global Social Action Agenda |
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Google, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon and other tech giants have revolutionized our lives for the better in many ways and raked in billions of dollars in profits in the process. But unfortunately, they have also allowed the Internet to become an important tool used by racists, anti-Semites, terrorists and other purveyors of hatred and violence. With social media and websites increasingly serving as our lifeline to news, entertainment and our children’s education, it would be irresponsible to ignore people who weaponize these essential communication tools in the service of hate groups. I launched the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Digital Hate Project 27 years ago, when the Internet was in its infancy. When we first met with Facebook it was a small company that owned one building. Now more than 1 billion people around the world use Facebook. |
| Read More about the SWC’s Digital Hate and Terrorism project |
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 For 25 years, the Simon Wiesenthal Center has issued an interactive report focusing on what has become a critical global frontier in the marketing of hate and terrorism. The Center’s most recent annual Digital Terrorism + Hate report details the growing list of alternative platforms enabling white nationalists and other extremists to expand their reach and influence, including messaging and gaming sites. Accompanying the report is the annual report card grading Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and other social media platforms’ record on blocking hate and terrorism online. |
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