MADRID - Jewish communities worldwide have reported a sharp rise in online antisemitism following the October 7 terror attacks as hateful content spreads at an unprecedented rate. Despite moderation policies by platforms like TikTok and Meta to detect and remove hate content, perpetrators continue to evade detection through coded language and other tactics.
The WJC Technology and Human Rights Institute (TecHRI) launched on Thursday its Hate Online: Preparedness and Empowerment (HO:PE) project to combat the scourge of online hate. Funded by the European Commission, HO:PE is an online antisemitism-reporting tool, comprised of both a browser extension and mobile application, that allows users to report harmful content in a few easy steps.
Introducing the tool at a security training session in Madrid, WJC’s TecHRI Projects and Partnerships Manager Marija Ljubinkovic pointed out how users can identify whether a piece of content online pertains to hate speech, including Holocaust distortion, incitement to violence, the demonization of Israel, or something else. From there, Jewish community members are able to report it easily to the community representatives who are given access to the data to analyze submitted reports, create advocacy reports, and take appropriate action with platforms or public authorities when necessary.
The conference spotlighted HO:PE’s various features while educating the audience on the legal and technical frameworks of moderating antisemitism across online platforms. As WJC’s tech consultant Balazs Szabolcska gave a live demonstration on how to submit a report, TecHRI Project Manager Hannah Maman provided an overview of the EU laws on hate crimes and hate speech such as the Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires all online platforms within the EU to allow users to report illegal content and work with trusted flaggers to remove it. Maman also explained how HO:PE enables online users, public authorities, and staff monitors to submit and review the data submitted to address gaps in how law enforcement and tech platforms respond to antisemitism and other forms of discrimination online.
The HO:PE tool will be provided to additional EU member states and other Jewish community organizations, to empower Jewish communities to identify and report antisemitism in real-time, while also educating users on what constitutes as ‘illegal’ behavior and what their civil rights are based on EU legislations. It also addresses the present shortcomings in how law enforcement and tech platforms respond to reports by identifying patterns through reported content across different platforms and languages.
The WJC Technology and Human Rights Institute builds on the World Jewish Congress’ longstanding efforts to challenge Holocaust denial and online hate speech by engaging with Jewish communities, local governments, and tech representatives to combat the scourge of Jewish discrimination on the Internet.
