Block hate speech

One of the negative effects of social media and digital media is the rapid spread of hate speech and the use of these platforms by some to settle scores, stir up strife, or spread false news.

This has become crystal clear to everyone, having become troublesome and needing to be addressed practically.

In the Gulf countries, whose people are characterized by social harmony, cultural similarity, and intellectual convergence, the situation has become very worrying in recent years, not only for the people, but also for the regimes in these countries, which are united by the political cooperation council system and before that by history and geography, as well as lineage. This prompted the head of the National Media Office (NMO) in the UAE to take action to confront this new reality and launch the initiative #Block_without_Comment.

First, "block" refers to social media activists blocking troublesome or fake accounts or accounts that they do not wish to communicate with in one way or another. This blocking is done without any comment on these accounts, depriving them of any interest or interaction.

Therefore, this campaign works to block accounts that incite strife between the Gulf countries, especially those known as electronic flies or fake accounts, and thus aims to besiege hate speech, verbal violence, and false news and information that deliberately create problems.

According to Sheikh Abdulla Al Hamed, the founder of this bold and courageous initiative, it has begun to achieve its goals and many of these accounts have been besieged. It is noteworthy that it has been accepted by many tweeters and social media users, who saw it as a solution to stop hate speech from unknown sources.

In light of the conditions in the Arab region, it has become important for this initiative to expand and move beyond the Gulf and into the Arab digital space, as hate speech between Arab countries and their peoples is also increasing, coming from unknown sources. All of this hate speech does not benefit any party, but on the contrary, everyone who participates in the dialogues adds fuel to the fire, and everyone who tries to use reason, logic, the voice of reason and the language of tolerance finds nothing but attacks, exclusion and concealment.

Given the importance and global seriousness of this issue, the United Nations two years ago, in 2022, had adopted June 18 as the International Day to Combat Hate Speech, which raises awareness every year about the dangers of hate speech and the need to confront it around the world.

Before that, in 2019, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres launched the United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech to enhance global efforts to confront the phenomenon.

In 2011, the Human Rights Council issued a resolution called the Istanbul Process, which focuses on combating intolerance, racial discrimination, and discrimination based on religion or belief. It encourages countries to adopt legislation and policies that would prevent incitement to hatred.

Hate speech, which the world is fighting and the United Nations has developed plans, charters and issued resolutions to combat, is the first spark of conflicts, wars and disputes in the world, which start small and grow to the point where they cannot be controlled. Therefore, "blocking" has become a global requirement to preserve human rights and dignity, protect world peace, and maintain coexistence and tolerance among peoples.

These resolutions and initiatives are essential within the framework of international efforts to combat hate speech, which require international cooperation and effective measures at the national and regional levels.