WCC NEWS: Interfaith Alliance releases report: “Big Tech, Hate, and Religious Freedom Online”

The Interfaith Alliance, based in the USA, has published a new report, ““Big Tech, Hate, and Religious Freedom Online,” that works to educate people about the uniquely damaging impact of bigotry and hate. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 27 January 2023 The report explores the ways in which hate and harassment—both on and offline—undermine people’s freedom to believe as they choose, free from discrimination. The report attempts to connect the dots between religious freedom, people’s online lives, and the big tech business practices that allow hate to spread rapidly. During a webinar, experts gathered to speak about the report and take questions. “At the end of the day, we want individuals to be able to operate safely and freely online,” said Lauren Krapf, counsel for Technology Policy & Advocacy for the Anti-Defamation League. Krapf referred to a survey conducted by her organization. “Forty-four percent of all respondents who were harassed due to their religion were worried about future harassments,” she said. Paul M. Barrett, deputy director of the Center for Business and Human Rights at the Stern School of Business, addressed the complexity of the problem. “It is a hugely complex problem we face—which is to say the unintended side effects of this technology that is now so influential for the vast majority of our society,” said Barrett. “The economics of Silicon Valley have changed  rapidly over the last 8, 10, 12 months. Why is this relevant to religion, hate, and so forth?” The report delves into that relevancy, and also answers questions such as one posed about online hate speech by Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, president of the Interfaith Alliance. “What tools do we have at this point in order to begin to stem this tide or reverse it?” Zaki Barzinji, program director of Aspen Digital, said that artificial intelligence is at play for both the problem of hate speech and potential solutions. “For me, just at a macro level, the overarching issue is that we are experiencing a period of explosive innovation and advancement, especially when it comes to AI technology.” If technology can help trace those harassing others online, that can begin to address the problem. “There is also a lot of intersectionality among people who are doing the hate themselves,” Barzinji said. Link to report See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.  Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland