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Social media and Hate Speech in India
1. Introduction
This report documents and analyzes the role of social media with regard to
verified instances of in-person hate speech events in India in 2024, covering
various types of mass gatherings. These include political rallies, electoral
campaign events, religious processions, protest marches, demonstrations, and
cultural or nationalist gatherings. In other instances, they are organized with the
express objective of harassing minorities.
In 2024, the Indian general election, with polling held in seven phases between April
19 and June 1, state elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, and hate rallies
triggered by exaggerated claims of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh served as
key catalysts for a significant proportion of hate speech incidents. The number of hate
speech incidents targeting religious minorities surged from 668 in 2023 to 1,165 in
2024, marking a staggering 74.4% increase. Religious minorities, in particular, were the target of these speeches, with 1,147
(98.5%) targeting Muslims—either explicitly (1,050) or alongside Christians (97)—
while 115 (9.9%) targeted Christians, either explicitly (18) or alongside Muslims (97).
There is some overlap, as these numbers indicate, as many events and gatherings
feature hate speech directed at both Muslims and Christians.
BREAKDOWN OF HATE SPEECH BY TARGETED COMMUNITIES
Dangerous speech—defined as speech that "increases the risk that its audience will
condone or participate in violence against members of another group"—also saw a
significant rise. A notable peak in hate speech occurred in May 2024, at the height of
the election process. As was the case for the entire year, political leaders from the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as well as religious leaders and figures associated with
the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bajrang Dal, and other Hindu nationalist
organizations, were responsible for an overwhelming number of hate speech
incidents during this period. A second peak in hate speech events occurred in August
2024 with the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government and the ensuing political crisis in
Bangladesh. The specter of the Hindu minority community being under attack in
Bangladesh provided rich fodder for anti-Muslim rhetoric and hate in India.
Social media platforms—Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, Telegram, and X
(formerly Twitter)—were key instruments in enabling, amplifying, and mainstreaming...........
Read more https://www.csohate.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Report-Social-Media-and-Hate-Speech-in-India.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com
#local
1. Introduction
This report documents and analyzes the role of social media with regard to
verified instances of in-person hate speech events in India in 2024, covering
various types of mass gatherings. These include political rallies, electoral
campaign events, religious processions, protest marches, demonstrations, and
cultural or nationalist gatherings. In other instances, they are organized with the
express objective of harassing minorities.
In 2024, the Indian general election, with polling held in seven phases between April
19 and June 1, state elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, and hate rallies
triggered by exaggerated claims of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh served as
key catalysts for a significant proportion of hate speech incidents. The number of hate
speech incidents targeting religious minorities surged from 668 in 2023 to 1,165 in
2024, marking a staggering 74.4% increase. Religious minorities, in particular, were the target of these speeches, with 1,147
(98.5%) targeting Muslims—either explicitly (1,050) or alongside Christians (97)—
while 115 (9.9%) targeted Christians, either explicitly (18) or alongside Muslims (97).
There is some overlap, as these numbers indicate, as many events and gatherings
feature hate speech directed at both Muslims and Christians.
BREAKDOWN OF HATE SPEECH BY TARGETED COMMUNITIES
Dangerous speech—defined as speech that "increases the risk that its audience will
condone or participate in violence against members of another group"—also saw a
significant rise. A notable peak in hate speech occurred in May 2024, at the height of
the election process. As was the case for the entire year, political leaders from the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as well as religious leaders and figures associated with
the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bajrang Dal, and other Hindu nationalist
organizations, were responsible for an overwhelming number of hate speech
incidents during this period. A second peak in hate speech events occurred in August
2024 with the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government and the ensuing political crisis in
Bangladesh. The specter of the Hindu minority community being under attack in
Bangladesh provided rich fodder for anti-Muslim rhetoric and hate in India.
Social media platforms—Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, Telegram, and X
(formerly Twitter)—were key instruments in enabling, amplifying, and mainstreaming...........
Read more https://www.csohate.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Report-Social-Media-and-Hate-Speech-in-India.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com
#local
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