A new film, 'Is the internet broken?', brings to light the disturbing correlation between online hate speech and a surge in offline hate crime incidents, as revealed by critical research led by Professor Matthew Williams' HateLab initiative at Cardiff University. A stark increase in police-recorded hate crimes in England and Wales – up 252% between 2012 and 2023 – highlights the gravity of this issue.
According to recent data from England and Wales, over half of young people aged 12 to 15 report encountering hateful content online, underscoring the widespread nature of the problem. HateLab's comprehensive research, supported by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), meticulously tracks and analyses hate speech and crime across both digital and physical spaces.
Professor Williams' expertise in cybercrime and online extremism has shed light on how human psychology interacts with digital platforms. He notes that algorithms designed to evoke anxiety, anger, or fear can amplify negative content, drawing individuals into potentially harmful online experiences. This mechanism perpetuates the spread of hateful narratives, which in turn fuels offline hate crime.
The ESRC's investment in HateLab has facilitated the development of innovative tools for monitoring and responding to online harms in real time. Advanced AI-driven systems are capable of detecting and classifying harmful content at scale, forming the foundation of the 'Hero' platform utilised by various organisations to identify emerging threats. Additionally, this research has led to the creation of Nisien.ai, a Cardiff University spinout from HateLab, further developing applied artificial intelligence tools for understanding and responding to online harms.
HateLab's research has directly informed policy and practical responses, contributing significantly to the Welsh Government's national strategy for tackling hate crime. Its work is also integrated into the UK National Cyber Hate Crime Hub, providing crucial support for policing and national security efforts. The insights derived from HateLab's analysis have been instrumental in informing policymakers and organisations responding to this critical issue.