In the last year, more than 1.4 million messages and conversations were detected on social networks in Costa Rica linked to hate speech and discrimination, compared to the 937,000 detected in 2022, which represents a 50% increase in such demonstrations. But if the figure is compared to that of 2021, the increase was 255%.
This is revealed by the new study on hate speech on social networks in Costa Rica 2023, prepared jointly by the United Nations and the firm COES, a specialist in data analysis. The report was presented together with the Communication Research Center of the University of Costa Rica.
“We must not let hate speech, violence and discrimination become normalized in public discourse. We require urgent action from all the Powers of the Republic, but also from all social actors to address this growing problem through the creation of an agreement and a national strategy”, said Allegra Baiocchi, resident coordinator of the UN in Costa Rica.
education is key
The coordinator also stressed that education is key, so Costa Rica should move forward as soon as possible with the implementation of the Guide for the Prevention of Hate Speech in the education sector, launched jointly by the Ministry of Public Education, the Organization of the United Nations for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) and the United Nations Office for the Prevention of Genocide and the Responsibility to Protect.
For Felipe Alpízar Rodríguez, political scientist and vice-rector for Teaching at the University of Costa Rica, the data is an call attention to the polarization and tone of public discussion but they are also an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment of the University and its capacity for alliance with external actors in the search for well-being and a more just society.
“With these evidences in hand, now dWe must propose and demand quality public policies that attack the heart of the problem, continue researching and working to improve the quality of public debate and strengthen the administration of justice to better process this type of violence. From the University we can accompany these processes. The commitment of the University of Costa Rica to lead this ongoing exercise is total,” he emphasized.
Men are the main emitters
The UN study also found that in the last year the percentage of users who emit hate speech increased by 62% and that the most aggressive and violent messages increased by seven percentage points.
Men continue to be the main senders of messages, but the number of women who emit hate speech and discrimination has increased by 5% since 2021.
The study collected information from profiles and public pages of Facebook and Twitter.
Xenophobia and gender aggressions, among the most common issues
The investigation made it possible to define that the issues that most generate hate speech and discrimination are: politics and national reality (480,000), xenophobia (236,000), gender (214,000), sexual orientation (178,000), generational clash (143,000), racism (96,000), religion (36,000), disability (22,000).
The UN expressed concern about the increase in xenophobic messages (110%), against women (72%) and LGBTIQA+ populations (24%).
Messages were also registered against media, journalists and against journalism in general, which this year reached more than 206,000 aggressive and violent messages, 43% more than the previous year.
Hate and discrimination don’t start on the internet
“From the Observatory of Hate Speech and Discrimination of the University it is emphasized that hate speech does not start on social networks or on digital platforms but rather that reflects relational dynamics that normalize symbolic violence. And that one way to counteract these discourses is to promote an education that defends dialogue, tolerance and respect for others and their points of view,” said Larissa Tristán, coordinator of the Observatory.
The study recorded nearly 98,000 discriminatory and offensive messages against women politicians, women journalists, and social media influencers. The UN stressed that this increase in digital gender violence is a call to advance in the implementation of the Law to Prevent, attend to, punish and eradicate violence against women in politics, approved in 2022.
Method to identify messages
This is the third state of affairs on the subject. To geolocate and classify by genre the more than 1.4 million entries, sets of words were tagged on public profiles and Facebook and Twitter pages that were categorized using artificial intelligence software. The analysis period was from June 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023.
study is part of the Costa Rica Plan against hate speech and discriminationprepared by the United Nations with the support of different sectors: State, civil society, academia and people committed to the subject.
The UN also published a Toolbox so that people and organizations can implement actions to deal with hate speech. This document includes research, campaigns, educational materials, legal guidance, life story books of affected people and populations, as well as other useful materials to inspire action against these discourses.
Victim support
The UN coordinator stressed the importance of giving care and support to those who are victims of these attacks.
“In this area progress must be made towards full and effective action by the judicial system to investigate, prosecute and punish this type of violence. Especially support women rights defenders and those who participate in politics, since they are the most affected. They must be clear about how to report this violence and the institutions must have accessible mechanisms and procedures to do justice,” Baiocchi pointed out.
The UN also called combat xenophobia and racism in Costa Rica, promoting awareness and education from the first school levelsensuring civil society access to complaint mechanisms when these messages are detected, and creating spaces for education and training in digital citizenship and human rights together with the social media companies themselves.
Likewise, he urged to curb and take measures at the club and federation level against racist and xenophobic expressions in soccer, as well as in other sports.
