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Status 2022

#NOHATESPEECH

United against hate speech

Hate, marginalization, and abuse seem to be omni­present on the internet. Almost all of us have encoun­tered online hate. However, it is only a small minority that spreads hate in forums, social media, and messaging services. We may not be able to silence hate, but together we can be much more effective in making our voices heard when we speak out against it.

Contents

#TAKEPART – No hate speech
Does the internet pose a threat to democracy?
Hate divides society
Quiz: Is that allowed?
Sock puppets and love speech
Get over your shock!
We need an ethical foundation
Helping democracy thrive
Countering hate with knowledge
We are taking a stand
We value our partnerships
Reason for optimism
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Does the internet pose a threat to democracy?

It provides fast access to information and brings people together. But it is increasingly being misused for the purpose of intimidating and marginalizing people and of manipulating public opinion. In social networks, lies, insults and defamations fly thick and fast. Hate speech and fake news that spread rapidly through the internet pose a threat to our democracy. Some people seem to feel that their online anonymity gives them a license to say or do whatever they want, no matter how outrageous or offensive it might be. Such people’s attacks often target people on the basis of their skin color, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, age, disability, or religion. Or they are aimed at people who belong to certain segments of society, who have certain jobs, or who hold certain political opinions.

Hate divides society

So what is the actual purpose of these attacks? It depends. As you might expect, “silencing” is all about getting specific people to stop speaking out. For example, activists who champion the human rights of refugees online or advocate for women’s rights don’t have to wait long for hateful comments to start coming their way. Many of them withdraw from the public sphere because they feel unable to cope with such huge pressure. Of course, that is exactly what their attackers want. If they can shut down anyone who thinks differently than them, then their opinions will seem to stand alone as the only valid ones. And when that happens, the range of perspectives that people need in order to form considered opinions is suddenly gone. That, in turn, opens the way for the spread of extremist political standpoints. And that threatens our democracy! The Initiative D21’s 2021/2022 digital index shows just how real the dangers are: One fourth of all those surveyed view digitali­zation as a danger for democracy.

The situation with internet trolls is a little different. Trolls seem simply to enjoy abusing other people, and they are not selective about who they target. They thrive on provocation. Even though trolls are fewer in number than the “silencers,” their attacks still ultimately affect all of us, and not just their intended victims.

That is because their verbal abuse can get so common that it starts seeming normal. Suddenly, what used to be “exteme” and “beyond the pale” becomes somehow acceptable.

Quiz

Is that allowed?

Abuse someone in person on the street and you risk prosecution. So what is the situation with social media?

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Question 1 of 4

Tom writes on Facebook „Michaela has a different one in bed every night!“

Right

Wrong

Deliberately asserting or spreading untrue facts that violate the honor of a person and degrade their reputation in public opinion is called "slander" and is prohibited.

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Question 2 of 4

I am sharing the picture of a swastika online – its supposed to be funny, though!

Right

Wrong

The swastika is a forbidden symbol and may not be used or distributed in Germany. Both is a criminal offence.

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Question 3 of 4

Gerd posts on Instagram „Islam is not a part of Germany!“

Right

Wrong

But what is decisive is the context! If one's own opinion is recognizable ("I think that....."), such a statement is permitted. But if persons are discriminated against or disparaged, it is not allowed and no longer falls under freedom of opinion.

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Question 4 of 4

Renate comments „Punch holes in the boats! Refugees only steal our German money!“

Right

Wrong

That is incitement of the people. Anyone who incites hatred, violence and arbitrariness against a certain group of people or attacks the human dignity of others, thus disturbing public peace, is liable to prosecution.

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Points

Basically, whatever is unlawful in our analog lives is also unlawful online. Offenses such as libel and incitement to hatred are illegal online, too.

Sock puppets and love speech

Are you wondering what cute little sock puppets have to do with online hate? Here are some interesting terms related to online etiquette:

1Sock puppet

Second and third accounts belonging to one and the same person that communicate with each other and back each other up so it looks as if several different people are talking together.

2Troll

A person who spreads a breathtaking number of negative and provocative comments to disrupt discussions.

3Hate speech

Hate speech means that people are demeaned or attacked, or that hatred or violence is incited against people.

4Love speech

The opposite of hate speech. Love speech is a call for appreciative and respectful language.

5Online uproar

An online avalanche of derogatory criticism aimed at a person or company.

6Silencing

A huge outpouring of hate with the aim of forcing alternative opinions out of social media.

Get over your shock!

Although almost all of us have come across hateful comments online before, very few people actually do anything about it. Instead, when confronted by hate, we are paralyzed by shock. We don’t know whether we should respond or how, so we quickly scroll on. How could we respond, take a stand against hate, and make discussions more constructive?

1Show solidarity!

It is important for the victims of hate to see other people taking action. After all, a lack of solidarity can be almost as bad as hate itself. That means taking a clear stand in response to hateful comments. It’s also a good idea to contact the people who have been targeted with a direct message to comfort them.

2Stay calm and don’t let yourself be provoked

Admittedly easier said than done! Although a swift res­ponse is good, it’s not essential. Particularly when you’re emotionally charged, taking a breath and doing some­thing else first can be a good way of clearing your head.

3Use fact checkers!

Generalizations and fake news are often used to incite hatred against certain groups. In these cases, it makes sense to counter assertions with facts. Doing this is not always as difficult as you might think. False stories and reports that crop up again and again on the internet will often already have been debunked by professional fact checkers such as Correctiv, Mimikama, Tagesschau Faktenfinder, and ZDFheuteCheck.

4Report posts or comments that breach rules!

You can do this on Facebook by clicking the three dots at the top edge of a post. The administrator is then required to check the post or comment and delete it, if appropriate. When reporting hateful or harmful content to the police it is important to take screenshots or back up the link, ideally with the name and date/time. In Germany, you can file reports either online or at any police station.

5Practice taking on the haters!

Many of the groups that work against on­line hate speech and marginalization offer free online courses during which people can practice responding and try out new strate­gies in a safe space. These can be found, e.g., at #ichbinhier, the Amadeu Antonio Foundation or at LOVE‑Storm.

Some 21 percent of internet users in Germany have responded to hate speech by criticizing it. Some 29 percent have reported hate speech to the relevant online portal, and 1 percent have reported hate speech to the police.*
*The Media Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia 2022

Hate and incitement have no place in our society – not on the internet and not in real life, where words unfor­tunately become deeds. We believe everyone should be able to enter into dialog with each other on the basis of fair­ness. We are taking specific steps to pursue this aim. Tim Höttges, Chairman of the Board of Management, Deutsche Telekom AG

We need an ethical foundation

Deutsche Telekom believes in the European vision of shared prosperity and social security. Europe is not simply an economic community, but above all a community for peace – an idea of tolerance and diversity, of civic coop­eration. The European idea is also based on the concept that the best way to achieve peace is through net­working rather than putting up barriers. The internet plays a key role in this regard, enabling people to share opinions and discuss solutions 24/7.

A sound ethical foundation is vital, though, which is why we are calling for and encouraging macrosocial debate on the responsible way to shape digitalization.

The package of legislation passed by the EU in spring 2022 and due to come into force next year is set to be a key step toward rein­forcing European values. It includes the Digital Services Act (DSA for short), which is based on the principle that whatever is an offense offline is also an offense online. Among other things, the DSA puts platform operators in particular under a greater obligation to provide straight­forward reporting procedures and delete illegal content such as hate speech within 24 hours.

Helping democracy thrive

Deutsche Telekom’s brand promise is “Life is for sharing”. We want to promote community and connectedness via digitalization. And we know we have a responsibility in this regard – a responsibility that includes much more than simply bringing online access to as many people as possible, and protecting data security and privacy. When a new technology such as the internet changes our lives, we need to agree on a new set of rules. These cannot be dictated by individuals. They must be developed through a consensus process. In the “Digital Responsibility” section of our corporate website, we discuss the challenges and opportunities of the digital world with experts. Also, we are one of the first corporations worldwide to have given ourselves binding guidelines on artificial intelligence – “digital ethics guidelines on AI” – and we have a passionate commitment to boosting media literacy throughout the general public. Ethics and media literacy play a central role in efforts to ensure that digitalization boosts democracy – and doesn’t block it.

SDG 16 – Peace, justice, and strong institutions SDG 16 – Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Our measures in this area are supporting efforts toward the 16th Sustainable Development Goal within the UN’s Agenda 2030.

Countering hate with knowledge

1#TAKEPART-Stories

Our #TAKEPART stories initiative explains how digi­tali­zation is changing our lives and how we can benefit from the oppor­tunities it offers while also critically examining the risks involves. We offer guides for workshops, of varying lengths, on focus topics such as digital democracy, civil courage online, gaming and opinion manipulation online. The guides are available in German, English and simplified language.

2Teachtoday

Our “Digital Civil Courage” series, on the Teachtoday, platform, is a teaching and guidance resource for parents, grandparents, and teachers seeking to give children and young people a better under­standing of what “online hate speech” is all about. Teachtoday offers more than 100 units on digital topics, including materials aimed at children between the ages of 9 and 12 and children between the ages of 13 and 16. The materials, all of which are available free of charge, include videos and exercises for both home and classroom settings.

3The SCROLLER children’s magazine

The “Courage on the Net” issue of our SCROLLER children’s magazine tells kids how to become an online hero – and what different kinds of strengths people show in countering abuse.

We are taking a stand.

In our podcast series, we provide a wealth of information about the following issues:

Civil courage online

Civil courage online

What exactly is it? What are the differences between the analog and digital worlds, when it comes to courage? And how is digital courage relevant for us? Go to the podcast here.

The power of language

The power of language

Language influences how we view the world. We can use language consciously and promote constructive dialog – also on the internet. Go to the podcast here.

Filter bubbles and echo chambers

Filter bubbles and echo chambers

Reality – or some sort of “filter chamber”? How to protect yourself from information monotony and warped perceptions. Go to the podcast here.

First-aid course for the internet?

First-aid course for the internet?

Many people online encounter online hate speech, but few people try to do anything about it. What has to happen before we take action? Go to the podcast here.

Conspiracy theories

Conspiracy theories

What is behind them – and is the digital world actually leading to the development of more, brand-new conspiracy theories? Go to the podcast here.

Online hate

Online hate

Hate is a social problem that affects all of us. How can it be stopped? Go to the podcast here.

Manipulation on the internet

Manipulation on the internet

Are you using the internet to form your own opinion, or are you just falling for spin? What happens to us every day on the internet? Go to the podcast here.

Fake news

Fake news

We’ve all heard of it and we’ve probably all been taken in by it at one time or another. Find out what each of us can do. Go to the podcast here.

Digital crime – looking for digital clues

Digital crime – looking for digital clues

Our prize-winning true-crime podcast takes a comprehensive look at cybersecurity and cybercrime issues. Go to the podcasts here

We value our partnerships

A number of committed organi­zations offer concrete strategies for countering online hate. We work with many of these organi­zations or and assist them with their social commitment. For example, we are colla­bo­rating with Gesicht Zeigen! and #ichbinhier to offer workshops on digital skills and education for democracy. We have compiled a selection of our partner organizations and initiatives and what they offer at www.telekom.com/en/company/topic-specials/no-hate-speech.

Reason for optimism

Democracy and human rights cannot be taken for granted. Therefore, we have to work to ensure that we do not lose these achievements, and we have to enable ourselves to deal competently with the digital world. That kind of work, for all of us, includes showing civil courage, so that hate does not become the norm.

That said, there is good reason to be optimistic! It has been scienti­fically proven that if we reinforce our own skills through experience or experimen­tation, we become more coura­geous and are more likely to step in when something is not right. Also, we feel better when we are able to turn an unpleasant feeling into concrete positive action. What is more, studies have shown that objective, factual responses to online hate speech and verbal abuse can de-escalate online discussions. Furthermore, people who demonstrate civil courage are not alone! To date, some 42 000 people have come together under the #ichbinhier (#Iamhere) hashtag alone to show – day in and day out – that they are against hate speech and marginalization on the internet.