Faith leaders call for action to tackle online hate speech

Published on 17 August 2020

The UK Government must act as social media companies continue to fall short when tackling racist, antisemitic, Islamophobic and Anti-Hindu hate online.

Very Rev Dr Susan Brown, convener of the Faith Impact Forum of the Church of Scotland, has joined nine other leaders of faith groups in calling for new legislation to be introduced as a matter of urgency.

The group say the public can cannot rely on social media company's piecemeal approach to online abuse.

social-media
“Christians believe that all people are made in God's image and that means we cannot see anyone mistreated or abused." Very Rev Dr Susan Brown.

They highlighted a recent 48-hour boycott of Twitter by some of its users, protesting at the platform's alleged lack of action on anti-Semitic tweets posted by grime music artist Wiley, as a demonstration of the real world harm that can be caused online.

Dr Brown, minister of Dornoch Cathedral in the Highlands, said: "No-one should hide behind technology to make hurtful and hateful comments or to fuel people's prejudices.

"Words always have consequences and we would encourage people to use them to break down barriers, not build them.

"Christians believe that all people are made in God's image and that means we cannot see anyone mistreated or abused.

"Companies can't provide the means and take the profit without being held accountable."

Very Rev Dr Susan Brown
Very Rev Dr Susan Brown

The statement reads:-

"As faith leaders and heads of faith-based organisations we stand in solidarity with all those who have faced abuse and hatred on social media.

The events of recent weeks are another painful reminder of the extent of real world harm that can be caused online.

The prevalence of racist, antisemitic, Islamophobic and Anti-Hindu hate underlines how the social media companies continue to fall short.

We cannot continue to rely on their piecemeal approach to online abuse.

Today, we are calling on the UK Government to bring forward the Online Harms legislation as a matter of urgency.

The UK Government promised to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online but their flagship Online Harm legislation continues to be delayed.

This legislation must take us away from a reliance on a reactive approach where the rules are set by the companies.

The social media companies must be held to account when they design their services in a way that encourages and facilitates hate."

  • Very Rev Dr Susan Brown, Convener, Faith Impact Forum, The Church of Scotland
  • Akeela Ahmed MBE, Chair of the Independent Members, the Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group
  • Qari Muhammad Asim MBE, Chair, Mosques Imams National Advisory Board. Senior Imam, Makkah Mosque
  • Iman Atta, Director Tell MAMA and Faith Matters
  • Mark Gardner, Incoming Chief Executive, Community Security Trust
  • Rajnish Kashyap, General Secretary, Hindu Council UK
  • Laura Marks OBE, Co-Founder, Nisa-Nashim
  • Paul Parker,Recording Clerk, Quakers in Britain
  • Sally Patterson, Executive Committee, Alliance of Jewish Women and their Organisations