How can Media and Information Literacy (MIL) help us navigate the challenges of hate speech in an increasingly digital world? By fostering critical thinking and responsible engagement, MIL provides tools to question harmful narratives and promote ethical online behavior.
This page explores key concepts for empowering individuals and researchers to address hate speech online, including practical examples of how technologies like Artificial Intelligence can combat online hate speech.
What is Media and Information Literacy?
Media and Information Literacy (MIL) is a concept introduced by UNESCO to describe the skills and competencies essential for navigating the digital landscape. It empowers individuals to critically assess information, use digital tools effectively, and engage ethically with diverse content.
MIL encompasses several key areas: assessing information found online, using digital resources efficiently, and applying artificial intelligence responsibly. A central aspect of MIL is its attention to how media shape social narratives, an important element when addressing online hate speech and fostering inclusive dialogue.
With strong MIL competencies, individuals are better equipped to identify different forms of information harm, including hate speech, disinformation, and misinformation.
Below you can find key definitions relevant to MIL:
- Misinformation: Inaccurate or misleading information that is produced or shared without any deliberate intent to deceive or cause harm (UNESCO, 2018).
- Disinformation: Intentional, often coordinated efforts to mislead or manipulate people by providing them with false or deceptive information (UNESCO, 2018).
- Mal-information: Information that is factually accurate but used in a way that causes harm to an individual, organization, or country (UNESCO, 2018).
- Information Integrity: An information environment where people can express themselves freely while ensuring that “accurate, reliable, free from discrimination and hate is available to all in an open, inclusive, safe and secure information environment.” (UNHCR, 2024).
All three forms of information harms, disinformation, misinformation, and mal–information, threaten information integrity.
Learn more about Media and Information Literacy with UNESCO’s report “Media and Information Literate Citizens: Think Critically, Click Wisely!” (2021). This resource offers practical insights into fostering critical thinking and ethical engagement in the digital age.
The Role of AI in Combatting Online Hate Speech
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as a key tool in the fight against online hate speech. Tools powered by AI and machine learning can help identify harmful content at scale, providing a means to counter hate speech before it spreads.
A notable example is the research of Dr. Ethan Roberts at the University of Cape Town (here). His work focuses on refining algorithms to improve the detection of harmful online content, specifically using Large Language Models (LLMs) to classify hateful comments on social media platforms such as X (Previously Twitter). Dr. Roberts’ project also highlights the significance of local contexts, as it analyzes data specific to South Africa.
How is generative AI used to create hate speech, and how can it be harnessed to detect harmful online content? Interview with Dr. Ethan Roberts from the University of Cape Town.
For further exploration, check out the article “AI and the Holocaust: Rewriting History? The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Understanding the Holocaust” (2024 Unesco). It provides valuable insights into how AI is reshaping our understanding of historical narratives and its implications for combating hate speech.
Additional resources
Here are some additional resources to learn more about media literacy.
- UNESCO MIL Open Access Course: Navigating Climate Information with Media and Information Literacy
- MOOC Course for Teachers: Think Critically, Click Wisely: Media and Information Literacy in the next normal.
- United Nations General Assembly Report on Disinformation as a Human Rights Issue: Countering disinformation for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms
Related resources
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Coverphoto: by Andrew Renneisen/Getty Images
