While the Internet has proved over the years to be a critical enabler of free speech and expression, the very attributes of the Internet that make it so have also brought forth numerous complex challenges without precedents for effective resolution. Online hate speech is one such challenge, the prevalence of which threatens to compromise the Internet's role as an enabler of free speech. As the Internet also serves as a platform for hate speech, users are expected grow weary of what they choose to express online and how, which takes away from the Internet's most cherished attributes. Though considerable efforts have been made by state and non-state actors to effectively address this issue, a sustainable solution continues to elude due to several roadblocks that surface when attempting to put the remedies to practice. Some such challenges include: - Dangers and feasibility of monitoring and disabling hate-related content in areas of the Internet that witness high-volume traffic - Lack of effective reportage and redressal mechanisms, especially when hateful content comes in large numbers and targets particular individuals - Lack of human interaction in existing reportage mechanisms, which discourages victims from using them - Absence of mechanisms to identify and disable hateful content that makes use of regional languages and dialects - Low levels of awareness amongst law enforcement officials who are frequently approached by victims of sustained online abuse This session will bring stakeholders together to formulate concrete measures that will help overcome said practical challenges, thereby contributing to ongoing efforts at limiting online hate speech.
