In May 2016, the European Commission agreed with Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and YouTube on a Code of Conduct on countering illegal hate speech online (incitement to hate or violence).
In June 2017, Germany passed a Network Enforcement Act (NetzDG) to mitigate hate speech and disinformation on social networks. France adopted a similar Avia Law in 2020, while an Online Harms White Paper is discussed in the UK.
In May 2020, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed for an all-out effort to counter hate speech globally, as COVID-19 spurred a new wave of polarization and conspiracy theories.
Detect Then Act uses human activism and AI to monitor online hate speech and campaign with positive counternarratives. We promote and support bystanders to stand up, fostering citizens to be better equipped to deal with toxicity and harassment.
Detect Then Act uses Explainable AI to identify online hate speech, assisting upstanders to deflate toxic discussions in a self-regulatory approach. The project reports illegal cases of hate speech in accordance with the EU’s Code of Conduct and local legislation.
Online hate speech is on the rise. Social media networks may (involuntary) function as echo chambers where extreme views proliferate before spilling into the public debate. Europol's Terrorism and Situation Report (TESAT 2019) observes that violent extremism is expanding.
Detect Then Act are citizens, NGOs, universities and tech companies in Belgium, Germany, the UK and the Netherlands, supervised by a board of security, legal and ethics experts. We are co-funded by the Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme of the European Union (REC-RRAC-ONLINE-AG-2018).
Over 400 upstanders are involved in the project, from the following initiatives:
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