The No Hate Speech Campaign
The No Hate Speech campaign and its website support Internet users in coping with abusive comments.
“Hate is not an opinion. That includes the Internet.” The European Council is running a No Hate Speech Movement. Users are being called on to combat hate and discrimination on the Internet and the social media, to oppose incitement and to support the affected people. A specially designed website explains how users can become involved and why the campaign is important. It also provides tips and ideas on how to react to hate messages. The Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Manuela Schwesig, launched the campaign in Germany in June 2016. She is being supported by the Neue Deutsche Medienmacher (NDM).
Targeting people
According to the website: “Hate speech is when someone uses words and images as weapons.” The same applies when people are disparaged or attacked. “The comments are often racist, anti-Semitic or sexist and target particular people or groups.” One element in the campaign is that users stand up for each other.
The campaign’s initiators point out that every person has a right not to be discriminated against. “Nobody has to accept or endure hate speech.” The right to freedom of speech is not a licence to insult others, to aggressively target minorities or to incite people to hatred and violence.
By using counter-narratives, or alternative narratives, users can send out important signals and counteract hatred and incitement on the net via their keyboards and ideas. In this way they show the affected people that they are not alone. By giving another point of view in a particular context they enable users to gain differentiated insights into the topic and engage in a constructive conversation rather than simply reading hate comments and outbursts.
If you would like to join in the No Hate Speech Campaign, you can find all the details here: www.no-hate-speech.de.
