Combatting online HAte Speech by engaging online mEdia

ongoing

CHASE responds to the EU challenge of tackling online gender-based hate speech, which flourishes on online mass media, and with little having been done so far (systematic efforts primarily involve social media). Online gender-based hate speech has catastrophic consequences, fueling physical violence, victimization and often leads to hate crimes. The overall objective of CHASE is to establish and put into practice in Cyprus, Italy, Greece and France, a comprehensive mechanism for online media to effectively detect and respond to cases of online gender-based hate speech. The main activities of CHASE include: 1) Research on the existing legal framework about online hate speech, the existing detection & response mechanisms for cases of online gender-based hate speech, the identification of all different patterns of online gender-based hate speech based; 2) Development of an ICT tool detecting online gender-based hate speech; 3) Design of a comprehensive mechanism for countering online gender-based hate speech and capacity building of online media staff & professionals; 4) Drafting, signature and promotion of Code of Conduct for online media platforms on combating online gender-based violence; and 5) Awareness raising campaign implemented by online media towards their users and other media & dissemination activities. The expected outcomes from the implementation of CHASE are: i) 200 online media staff & professionals trained; ii) increased public awareness (at least 50.000 persons) on what is gender-based hate speech & how it constitutes human rights violation; iii) building the evidence base of online gender-based hate speech (relevant patterns, evaluation of legal framework and existing response mechanisms); iv)development of a comprehensive mechanism countering online gender-based hate speech, supported by a real time detection ICT tool; v) Code of Conduct for online media platforms on combating online gender-based violence developed and signed by at least 24 media.