Zooming in on Hate

In this episode, we explore how AI can be used for good in the fight against hate speech.

Hosted by the Violence Prevention Network under the European Observatory of Online Hate, this webinar brought together experts from:

Dare to be Grey

European Observatory of Online Hate (EOOH)

Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences

INACH – International Network Against Cyber Hate

Together, they discuss how AI-powered tools are already being used to:

Monitor hate speech and toxicity across platforms at scale

Detect harmful narratives and coordinated activity during elections and breaking news events

Support reporting under the DSA and other legal frameworks

Improve transparency and explainability in hate speech classification

Help researchers, civil society, and public institutions better understand online harm

The episode also digs into the challenges:

Bias in AI systems

Low-resource languages

Limited access to platform data

Underreporting of hate speech

The importance of keeping a human in the loop

If you’re interested in the intersection of technology, civil society, and digital safety, this one is for you.

More on the European Observatory of Online Hate:

www.eooh.eu

Follow us on LinkedIn:

European Observatory of Online Hate

We’ve seen the consequences of unchecked disinformation, from violent riots to broken trust in institutions. We could use your help to map out the real-world solutions that are making a difference. Take a couple minutes, fill in the global survey, and join us in shaping a safer digital, and offline world.

⏳ Deadline: October 31

📍 Survey link: https://anu.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2lqJC4wqabVkZDg

In this episode:

– The online birthrate panic and the far-right’s gendered agenda

– Misogyny, fertility myths, and the “Great Replacement” theory

– Deepfake pornography and the exponential rise of digital sexual violence

– A toolkit for bystanders: how to intervene and support victims

– The urgent need for stronger prevention, policy, and platform accountability

Brought to you by the European Observatory of Online Hate (EOOH).

Read more at www.eooh.eu and follow us on LinkedIn.

In this episode, we unpack the current state of play surrounding the Digital Services Act, following its first major year in force. This episode features insights from a special webinar held on 25 February 2025, with guests from:

• HateAid – a leading civil society organisation working on platform accountability

• CNAM – Ireland’s Digital Services Coordinator (DSC), responsible for regulating many of the world’s largest online platforms

Together, we explore:

• How platforms are responding to their DSA obligations

• Whether the current enforcement model can handle political pressure and industry pushback

• Why systemic risks—like disinformation and hate speech—require systemic solutions

• What civil society, regulators, and the EU Commission can do to keep enforcement credible

Key questions we raise:

• Can the DSA keep up with fast-moving platforms and policy shifts?

• Are we seeing early signs of “DSA washing” from Big Tech?

• And will the DSA hold its ground, or become another regulatory tool that’s too easily influenced by politics?

Resources & Links:

📌 HateAid

📌 CNAM

📌 Digital Services Act – Official EU Page

Connect with us on LinkedIn: European Observatory of Online Hate

In this episode, we examine how online hate doesn’t stay confined to the digital world—it spills over into real-life violence, and real-world events, in turn, fuel even more polarisation online.

Key topics discussed:

• The Amsterdam riots: How an online content escalated street violence, leading to arrests, injuries, and an international political reaction.

• The UK riots of 2024: Iman Atta from Tell MAMA UK explains how misinformation about an attack in Southport spread on social media, fuelling violent protests and attacks on minority communities.

• The role of disinformation, political rhetoric, and online platforms in shaping narratives that lead to real-world harm.

• The Digital Services Act (DSA)—Can regulation help break these cycles of hate and hold platforms accountable?

Guest interview:

Iman Atta, Director of Tell MAMA UK about how misinformation on X and Telegram mobilised extremist groups and escalated violence in the UK.

Resources & Links:

📌 EOOH Research on the Amsterdam Riots

📌 Tell MAMA UK

📌 More on the Digital Services Act (DSA)

Join the Conversation:

LinkedIn: EOOH LinkedIn

Let us know your thoughts! Is the DSA enough to curb online hate, or do we need more? Subscribe and stay tuned for more insights in upcoming episodes.

In this episode of Zooming in on Hate, we explore The State of the Digital Services Act (DSA)—Europe’s groundbreaking legislation aimed at creating safer and more transparent online spaces.

We discuss:

• The DSA’s impact so far, including early signs of reduced toxicity on mainstream platforms.

• The challenges of regulating fringe platforms and the role of AI in monitoring hate speech.

• Insights from civil society organizations across Europe and their evolving role under the DSA.

• The introduction of trusted flaggers and how they fit into the broader framework of online regulation.

You’ll also hear from Daniel Heller of CEJI, who sheds light on the complexities of implementing the DSA and what it means for monitoring hate speech and disinformation.

The DSA is still in its early stages, but its potential to transform the digital landscape is undeniable. Tune in as we unpack its progress, challenges, and what it could mean for the future of online safety.

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

• EOOH Article: Positive Signs That the DSA Is Working

• More on the Digital Services Act

Follow us for updates and join the conversation:

📍 Website: www.eooh.eu

📍 LinkedIn: EOOH LinkedIn

Don’t forget to subscribe for more insights in the episodes to come!

We are joined by Teresa Barros-Bailey from Moonshot. Theresa, a project manager at Moonshot, shares insights from her diverse experiences countering violent extremism and hate. Initially focused on Salafi jihadism in Southeast Asia, Theresa has since worked on projects addressing violent Buddhist ultranationalism in Myanmar and Sri Lanka, and more recently, far-right extremism and INCEL ideology in North America.

We discuss Moonshot’s interventions, such as working with local partners to offer psychosocial support to individuals engaging with extremist ideologies. These efforts have been successful in connecting at-risk individuals to resources, preventing further radicalisation. Theresa emphasises the importance of merging online and offline strategies, highlighting that isolation, often exacerbated by events like the COVID-19 pandemic or even seasonal changes, plays a critical role in driving people towards extremism.

One of the most concerning trends Theresa identifies is the rise of violent misogyny, particularly with the mainstreaming of INCEL ideology and figures like Andrew Tate. However, she also notes that this presents an opportunity for intervention, as many individuals in these communities are seeking connection and support. She also underscores the responsibility that tech companies and governments have in combating online hate, highlighting how social media platforms, particularly in countries like Myanmar, can inadvertently facilitate the spread of hate when they lack adequate content moderation.

We wrap up by discussing the importance of primary prevention, particularly through gamified inoculation content like the Bad News Game, which helps young people understand and resist disinformation, and on the need for stronger commitment from governments and tech companies to uphold their policies and use their influence to shape positive societal values.

We are joined by Peter Kovács from Subjective Values Foundation, an organisation based in Hungary that was founded in 2002. Peter, who has been with the organisation for nearly six years, discusses his work as the head of the project department, focusing on providing young people with opportunities to realise creative ideas, promoting cultural diversity, and supporting education for underprivileged youth.

Peter shares insights into Hungary’s online media landscape, highlighting the challenges of online hate speech and the importance of critical thinking. He emphasises that bystanders should play an active role in supporting victims of cyberbullying and hate, noting that reporting hateful content alone is not enough. Facebook is identified as one of the most problematic platforms in Hungary, with older generations perpetuating much of the online hate, whereas younger generations on platforms like TikTok are more likely to intervene and stand up for victims.

Peter also discusses some of the impactful campaigns his organisation has run, which highlighted the experiences of Hungarian influencers from minority groups facing online hate. The campaign was a success, even winning the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Change Maker Award in 2022. Peter reflects on the crucial role influencers play in setting positive examples for young people and addressing cyberbullying.

In his closing remarks, Peter shares practical advice for aspiring influencers, emphasising the importance of responsibility, critical thinking, and staying true to oneself. He also shares his wish to end anonymous online profiles, as he believes linking online identities to real-life individuals would significantly reduce trolling and hateful behaviour.

We are joined by Andrea Cox from Digital Intelligence. Together, we explore the work of her NGO, founded in 2017 in Slovakia, which focuses on promoting digital citizenship. Andrea emphasises the importance of using technology wisely and safely, integrating digital skills with the values needed to build a healthy society.

We delve into the specific challenges Slovakia faces in combating online hate, especially the disconnect between how Slovaks perceive themselves as welcoming and the reality of hate spreading through social media. Andrea explains how online spaces, initially created around innocent hobbies, have been co-opted to promote political agendas and hate speech, highlighting the complexities of navigating these environments.

Our conversation touches on the significant role education plays in addressing these issues. Andrea discusses the recent curriculum reform in Slovakia aimed at better preparing students for the digital age, though she notes that its full impact may take years to be fully realized. She shares examples of successful educational initiatives like the “Cyber for Kids” program and “Digi Peers,” which involve volunteers educating thousands of children across Slovakia on digital safety and critical thinking.

Andrea underscores the importance of media literacy, critical thinking, empathy, and resilience as essential skills for resisting radicalisation and disinformation. We also discuss the impact of anonymity on online behavior, recognizing both its risks and the potential positives, such as the ability to explore identity in a safe environment.

We conclude the episode with Andrea advocating for multi-stakeholder collaboration, emphasising that no single group—whether civil society, tech companies, law enforcement, or policymakers—can tackle these issues alone. She shares her vision for a world where empathy is nurtured through games, books, and collaborative activities, which she believes could play a crucial role in reducing hate speech.

Disclaimer

This podcast was recorded before October 7, 2023, and does not reflect the events that occurred on, and after this date.

In this episode, we are joined by Tomer Aldubi from FOA (Fighting Online Anti-Semitism). Tomer provides an overview of FOA’s work, highlighting its efforts to combat online anti-Semitism since its establishment. FOA focuses on monitoring and removing anti-Semitic content across various online platforms and training volunteers to report harmful content.

Tomer discusses the intersection of online hate with societal issues such as political events and social crises. He emphasises the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration, involving social media platforms, governments, NGOs, and other organisations to effectively combat online hate. He shares FOA’s innovative approach, including training volunteers from diverse backgrounds and focusing on lesser-known platforms where harmful content often goes unnoticed.