Book Review: Abraham H. Foxman and Christopher Wolf, 'Viral Hate'

Abstract

Hate speech is designed to threaten certain groups publicly and act as propaganda for offline organizations. Hate groups use websites to share ideology and propaganda, to link to similar sites and to recruit new converts, advocate violence and to threat others. This useful book analyses the ways hate mongers are utilizing the Internet, and asks what can be done to counter their activities. The book discusses the targets of Nethate and offers practical proposals to address this increasing problem. The authors explain that the Internet provides cheap, instantaneous and anonymous distribution that can be easily downloaded and posted in multiple places. The transnational nature of the World-Wide-Web, its vast content, the fact that it has no central management or coordination, and that the routing computers do not retain copies of the packets they handle provide ample opportunities for people to exploit the Net's massive potential to enhance partisan interests, some of which are harmful and anti-social, thus undermining people’s sense of trust in the Net. The problem is presented by the relatively small number of people who abuse the Net to harm others.

Keywords: Hate speech, racism, bigotry, Internet, violence, threats

JEL Classification: Z00