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LONG before a church is burned, a mosque vandalised or a mob assembled, the poison that enables such violence has been spreading quietly for months or years.
Hate speech rarely begins with physical attacks. It starts with words that portray entire communities as threats, outsiders or people less deserving of rights and dignity. By the time violence erupts, the prejudices behind it have often become deeply entrenched.
The International Day for Countering Hate Speech, observed today, comes at a difficult moment. Around the world, social media has made it possible for rumours, lies and hateful messages to travel further and faster than ever before.
A false claim posted online can reach thousands before it is challenged and millions before it is corrected. The algorithms that determine what people see often favour the most provocative content, rewarding outrage rather than accuracy.
