In a powerful display of unity and collective action, more than 200 civil society groups have come together to address the pressing issue of online hate speech and its real-world consequences. The open letter, addressed to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, First Minister Michelle O’Neill, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, and Taoiseach Simon Harris, calls for immediate action to prevent further violence, protect vulnerable communities, and hold social media platform bosses accountable for the harms they perpetuate.
The signatories of the letter represent a diverse range of organizations, including trade unions, local and regional community groups, national organizations, universities, businesses, faith groups, and professional social work associations from across Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and beyond. This broad coalition underscores the urgency and importance of the issue at hand.
One of the key concerns raised in the letter is the role of social media platforms in amplifying hate speech and inciting violence. Joe Mulhall of Hope Not Hate highlighted the alarming trend of far-right actors, racists, and certain politicians using social media to spread fear and division, leading to mayhem and intimidation in communities. Calls to racist violence were documented on various social media platforms in the lead-up to riots in Belfast, England, and Dublin, underscoring the need for immediate action.
Tanya O’Carroll, representing People vs Big Tech, emphasized the detrimental impact of social media algorithms that prioritize emotionally manipulative and harmful content. She called for platform bosses to disable toxic engagement-based recommender systems by default and swiftly address harmful content on their services. The focus should shift to empowering users to control their online experience, rather than allowing algorithms to dictate what they see.
Niamh McDonald of the Hope and Courage Collective in Ireland stressed the importance of global solidarity in addressing the spread of hate speech online. The joint call from hundreds of groups worldwide reflects the shared responsibility of governments and social media platforms in combating harmful content. McDonald urged governments to take decisive action and hold platform bosses publicly accountable for their actions or inactions in protecting vulnerable communities.
Stevie Nolan of Trademark – Anti-Sectarian Unit in Northern Ireland echoed the call for immediate action from political leaders to bring platform bosses into a public forum to answer questions and clarify steps taken to protect at-risk individuals. The urgency of the situation demands swift and transparent action to address the root causes of online hate speech and violence.
In conclusion, Tanya O’Carroll emphasized the need for governments to establish a joint public inquiry with a diverse range of witnesses, including affected communities, civil society, and senior leadership from social media platforms. The inquiry would shed light on the harms caused by these platforms and identify necessary legislative measures to address gaps in enforcement and regulation.
The open letter and its signatories stand as a powerful testament to the collective will to combat online hate speech and its real-world consequences. It is a call to action for political leaders, social media platforms, and civil society to work together towards a safer and more inclusive online environment for all.