Unveiling the Menace of Online Discrimination in Today's Connected World
The fight against discrimination has shifted online beyond physical boundaries as the world revolves around digital connections. Following Zero Discrimination Day, it is essential to address the hidden problem of digital discrimination and its widespread impact.
The Rise of Online Hate Speech
Hate speech on social media platforms has become a significant issue in the connected world. Discriminatory comments, particularly those that target specific communities and genders and dehumanise individuals, have become prevalent and are causing harm.
Examples of such content range from derogatory remarks and offensive memes to deliberate misinformation that targets specific groups.
Unfortunately, the consequences of such actions go beyond individual feelings; they can escalate into real-world tensions, affecting social harmony and amplifying divisions.
India has witnessed a growing hate speech menace online. It is home to various ethnic groups or communities, leading to more chances of group violence and communal fights between different groups.
For instance, Uttar Pradesh, India's largest state, has seen a massive 400% jump in hate speech-related violence between 2021 (147) and 2022 (581). Although there are several laws, including Section 66 (A) of the Information Technology Act, defining and penalising online hate speech, the hate speeches and resultant violence continue to flourish in the absence of effective policing and robust political response. (1)
Cyber racism refers to the manifestation of racial discrimination and prejudice in the digital or online environment. It involves using digital platforms, such as social media, websites, blogs, or other online spaces, to promote discriminatory practices based on race, ethnicity, or related factors.
For example, racism can occur on social media platforms, such as offensive jokes or comments, name-calling or verbal abuse, harassment or intimidation, or public commentary which incites hostility towards certain groups.
Due to the widespread dissemination of racist content on the internet, some individuals may begin to believe that hate speech is acceptable. Exposure to harmful language regularly may even desensitise people to its effects, leading to increased tolerance of such behaviour online and in real-life communities.
In the past few years, incidents of cyberbullying have escalated among the youth. Due to advanced technology, young people are increasingly engaged with social media. Along with this increased usage, online bullying has become more prevalent.
As of July 2021, over 60% of the world’s population, or 4.8 billion people, used social networks. This resulted in an annual growth rate of 5.7%, meaning that 700k users were added daily (Digital Around the World, 2021).
As the number of social media users increases, so does the prevalence of cyberbullying.
UNICEF conducted a poll in which more than 33% of the youth admitted they had been bullied online in 30 selected countries across the globe (UNICEF, 2020). This has made one in five students skip school because of fears of cyberbullying and violence. (2)
In India, as per 2020 data, 50,035 reported cases of cybercrime consisted of 1614 cases of cyberstalking, 762 cases of cyber blackmailing, 84 cases of defamation, 247 cases of fake profiles and 838 cases of fake news. The crime was found to have increased by 63.48% from 27248 cases (in 2018) to 44548 cases (in 2019). It increased by 12.32% in 2020 (from 4,45,48 cases to 5,00,35 cases). (2)
Ensuring Inclusive Online Spaces
Creation of inclusive online spaces can be very hard, yet few champions can achieve this goal alone. All participants in the society should be involved in this process. Places must showcase proactive efforts in policy enforcement for antidiscrimination, hiring diversified moderation teams, and technology investment for automatic identification and curbing of discriminatory content. The advantage of having simple report systems is that all individuals would be involved in making a safer digital environment.
In conclusion, the need to address digital discrimination is undeniable, especially given that the evolution of discrimination has moved to the giant world of the internet. Today, as we celebrate Zero Discrimination Day, let us propel ourselves towards a future where the digital world mirrors the principles of diversity, empathy, and unity.