Antysieć, czyli ruchy nienawiści w Internecie
Anti-network or hate movements on the Web

Summary/Abstract: Over recent years, the Internet has become the platform for a myriad of social movements fighting for their rights and claiming the change of the current status quo. In this respect much ink has been spilt on the role of the Web in the wave of social unrest in Egypt and Tunisia. These developments were examined in a number of publications, including the book by Manuel Castells “Networks of Outrage and Hope. Social Movements in the Internet Age”. The virtual space enabled people to coordinate their actions and, in the context of violation of fundamental human rights, brought the discussion on a number of social issues to the international level. Yet, the Internet has its other, darker side. As on-line communities can be created easily, the virtual space has been more and more often used by groups whose agenda is not always socially acceptable and which often question the existing social order. This paper discusses this negative side of the Web. It depicts social movements which use the Internet to relay their message and to call for hate. It presents examples of groups which organize such on-line communities and the means used to that end. Moreover, it touches upon the issue of legal and technological constraints in fighting hate speech on the Web.

• Details
• Contents