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Antisemitism Online: Facebook As a Space for Antisemitic Hate Speech See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/346580830 Antisemitism online: Facebook as a Space for Antisemitic Hate Speech Research · December 2020 DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.26754.91840 CITATIONS READS 0 97 4 authors, including: Viera Žúborová Bratislava policy Institute 23 PUBLICATIONS 53 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects: Antisemitism 2.0 View project All content following this page was uploaded by Viera Žúborová on 03 December 2020. The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. Antisemitism online FACEBOOK AS A SPACE FOR ANTISEMITIC HATE SPEECH Antisemitism online FACEBOOK AS A SPACE FOR ANTISEMITIC HATE SPEECH AUTHORS Viera Žúborová Milan Hrabovský Radomir Sztwiertnia Karina Veltzé Zsolt Nagy Gelencsér Petra, Berbás Hanna Combat Anti-Semitism in Central Europe (ComAnCE) Duration of the project: 07/2019-06/2021 Type of action: REC-AG-2018/REC-RRAC-RACI-AG-2018 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The document aims to present a summary of the main findings regarding antisemitic statements in the online space from national reports of four (4) Visegrad countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia) in the ComAnCE (Combat Antisemitism in Central Europe) project. The goal of the ComAnCE project is to produce and present, towards the state authorities, police force, fellows researchers, European institutions and bodies, focusing on discrimination and hate crime, a precise categorization, types and indicators of antisemitic hate speech (hate crime) in Central Europe (V4). ComAnCE project focused on the media, and social networks (especially Facebook) in project countries to analyze antisemitic statements in the online environment (see Chapter “Role of the Media”). This objective has been achieved through an online survey in project countries. All national reports concentrated on their specific topic, which caused most antisemitic reactions (see Chapter “Research and survey”). Project countries created the unique categorization of antisemitic statements according to which they were classified the keywords collected from Facebook users with the use of specific software (Maxqda and CLARIN) (see Chapter “Research Method”). The main output of the ComAnCE project is a remarkable database of antisemitic statements and keywords which is unparalleled in Europe. Moreover, project countries focus on relatively frequent occurrence of antisemitic stereotypes that are deeply rooted in Central European society (see Chapter “Main findings”). From these main findings, we can see that antisemitic statements in Central Europe (V4) is not related to the Jews anymore (so we can talk about “antisemitism without Jews”), but has a more significant impact on radicals or extremists. The audience that could benefit from the project is all research fellows from European countries, whose work focuses on the various types of hatred, all relevant stakeholders and policymakers dealing with these issues and the victims of antisemitic hate speech/hate crime. This type of project is essential because it could help create a customized training program on the counter, combat, localize, categorize and target antisemitic hate speech (hate crime) in the online environment. This project is especially important because several antisemitic statements have appeared in the online space in recent years. Terminology note Concerning the term "antisemitism", the scientific literature tends to refer to this term without a hyphen, as this would predict the misleading claim that there is some "Semitism" against which it is possible to object.1 The Anti-Defamation League asserts: "The word "Semitic" was first used by a German historian in 1781 to bind together languages of Middle Eastern origin that have some linguistic similarities. The speakers of those languages, however, do not otherwise have shared heritage or history. There is no such thing as a Semitic peoplehood. Additionally, one could speak a Semitic language and still have Antisemitic views."2 CEJI – A Jewish Contribution to an Inclusive Europe claims: "The word 'antisemitism' usually appears in American publications spelled with a hyphen and a capital letter S: 'antisemitism', whereas in British English, it is spelled as one word with a lowercase s: 'antisemitism'. The question of a hyphen is important because its use implies that the words semitism or semite are actually meaningful, when in fact they do not exist, as we explain in the text. "3 1 “Working Definition of Antisemitism”, in: International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, (online), in: <https://www.holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definitions-charters/working-definition-antisemitism> 2 “Spelling of antisemitism vs. Antisemitism”, in: Anti-Defamation League, (online), in: <https://www.adl.org/spelling> 3 Guidelines for identifying & monitoring antisemitism online & offline (2016), CEJI – A Jewish Contribution to an Inclusive Europe, p. 2. Role of the media Media are an essential tool in shaping the world views on global societies. With the rise of social media and their power to change the attitudes and opinions of their users, media are becoming a crucial part of everyday life. Especially social networks which became explicitly a primary source of information. However, with the rise and popularization of the Internet, social networks and at the same time the increase in the consumption of online media content, several negative social phenomena have appeared on the Internet in Visegrad countries. Such as antisemitic speech, hate speech, racism, stalking or bullying and various forms of radicalism. These negative phenomena are catalyzed by the anonymity of communication, limited or non-existing regulation and censorship and the rapid flow of information. Also, the wide access to Internet gave this social media a greater impact. For example, in the Czech Republic, more than eight million Czech citizens have access to the Internet, and 80% of them are using Internet on daily basis. In Poland 28.2 million have access to the Internet (84.9 %). In Hungary, the number of internet users is 6 396 000 (66.6% of population) and in Slovakia it is 4 630 000 users (85% population). Of course the use of various type of social media vary in all Visegrad countries, but Facebook is most popular in the whole region. This was also the main reason why we choose specifically Facebook for our content media analysis. We have selected ten (10) media in all Visegrad countries based on the type of the media, content and position within or outside the mainstream environment. To be more specific, Facebook profiles of these selected media, have a large number of users, and they are also placed on the highest ranks on the Trust barometer or among the readers. The significant number of antisemitic Facebook statements were shared via such media and their discussion under media news is not moderated, neither deleted. The highest amount of antisemitic statements were generated by (1) the most popular tabloid-(fake) style information portal (In The Czech republic: Parlamentnilisty.cz, AC24.cz, Blesk.cz; In Hungary: Blikk, Balra Magyar, 888.hu; In Poland: Fakt; In Slovakia: Nový čas, Plus Jeden Deň, Plus 7 dní, Báječná žena, topky.sk, hlavnesprávy.sk, parlamentné listy, Zem a vek, Slobodný vysielač, Hlavný denník); (2) in the second place was one of the most popular (online) news portals (In The Czech republic: ČT 24, Czech Radio – Radiožurnál, iDNES.cz, Novinky.cz, Aktualne.cz, Seznam.cz; In Hungary: index.hu, 24.hu, origo.hu; In Poland: Gazeta Wyborcza, Sieci, Wirtualna Polska, Onet, Na Temat, Nie, Niezalezna; In Slovakia: Radio express, Radio Slovensko, FUN radio, Pravda, SME, Hospodárske noviny, Život, Denník N, Aktuality.sk); and (3) in the third-place (commercial) television channel (In The Czech republic: TV NOVA, Prima, TV Barrandov; In Hungary: MTV, HírTV, HVG, ATV; In Poland: TVP info, TVN24; In Slovakia: Tv Markíza, Tv JOJ, RTVS, TA3). Research and survey In all national reports we have selected ten (10) most popular media with Facebook profiles in all Visegrad countries; however, every report focuses on different events in which antisemitic statements occurred. The research data was the result of online survey of the Facebook comments conducted in all V4 countries at the end of December 2019. Overall, 4137 people completed the online questionnaire. Age, groups were approximately evenly distributed and only persons over 15 years filled in the questionnaire. The lowest age groups were slightly overrepresented in all four countries what reflected characteristics of social network users. The selection of respondents also reflected the administrative division of countries and in all four cases, respondents from all regions of the country were represented. The respondents were asked about their personal opinion as they should rank which statements would cause most antisemitic reactions. Respondents also had the opportunity to propose their topics, which may have such potential: The Czech Republic TOPIC EVENT COLLECTION OF DATA Million Moments for Democracy – 1st large Demonstrations against 21. 6. – 30. 6. 2019 demonstration Prime Minister Andrej Babiš Million Moments for Democracy – 2nd large or President Miloš Zeman 11. 11. – 24. 11. 2019 demonstration Visit of the President of the Czech Republic Information about Israeli- Miloš Zeman in Israel – Declared relocation 23. 11. – 31. 12. 2018 Palestinian conflict of the Czech Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem New developments on the Greek-Turkish Migration crisis in Europe 24. 2. – 22. 3. 2020 border in 2020 Hungary TOPIC EVENT COLLECTION OF DATA "Premier of a Holocaust-themed film" was The premiere of the film' the screening of the film "Those Who 19.09. – 10.10. 2019 Those who remained.' Remained" (September-October 2019) "Antisemitic Attacks in Western Countries" Antisemitic attack at a shop was the 2019 series of attacks on Jews in 03.12. – 24.12. 2019 in New Jersey New Jersey, starting in a kosher shop (December 2019). "Campaign against George Soros" was in connection with the so-called "jail business", a term coined by government George Soros' role in the 28.12.2019 – 18.01.
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