Media experts call for stricter laws against online hate speech

Amman - Media professionals at Media Against Hate conference stress the need for social media influencers to produce useful and educative content

Media experts have urged Arab nations to introduce tougher laws regulating social media users in order to prevent harms caused by fake news and hate speech as the region fights religious discrimination.

During a panel discussion on “Social Media and Hate Speech” at the ‘Media against Hate’ conference in Amman, Jordan, Samir Al Hiyari, a media professional from the UAE said unlike in the western world where people can use social media responsibility, many youths in the Arab region don’t mind about what they share on social media thereby find themselves spreading messages of hate and discrimination.

“The definition of hate speech has not been clearly mentioned and this is why some people may go on to publish negative comments that incite discrimination without necessary knowing that they are spreading hatred,” he said.

“Introducing stricter online regulations should be the way forward for many Arab nations in order to control people misusing social media to advance their personal interests that in turn affect others.”

Al Hiyari also stressed the need for social media influencers to produce useful and educative content that can benefit the society.

“Influencers should produce content that have positive impact on their followers and not messages that mislead people,” he said.

On whether people using social media can self censor themselves, Abdullah Talafahah, a media expert from Jordan it’s not easy for people to control themselves regarding what they post on social media.

“Therefore, it’s good for nations to come up with a clear definition of what hate speech is and to issue strict rules and regulations to control the use of social media,” said Talafahah.