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On December 3rd, the Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH) hosted a powerful and timely panel discussion on the disturbing connection between online hate speech and real-world violence. The event focused on how platforms like Instagram are being used to fuel cow vigilantism and promote extremist ideologies in India

The Rise of Digital Extremism

The panel highlighted how Instagram has become a tool for far-right extremist groups to propagate hate speech, glorify violence, and normalize discriminatory ideologies. Through viral content, coded language, and algorithm-driven amplification, hate groups exploit the platform to target religious and ethnic minorities, particularly Muslims and Dalits.

Cow vigilantism—a form of mob violence purportedly aimed at protecting cows—has become a focal point of this issue. The panel discussed how social media not only amplifies hateful rhetoric but also emboldens perpetrators by glorifying their acts through widespread digital support.

Real-World Consequences

The discussion delved into the tangible impact of online hate speech. Participants shared harrowing accounts of minority communities facing violence, harassment, and social alienation as a result of extremist propaganda on social media. The normalization of hate online translates into emboldened real-world actions, creating a cycle of violence and fear.

The Responsibility of Big Tech

A central theme of the panel was the role of Big Tech in this crisis. Instagram’s algorithmic design was critiqued for favoring engagement over ethics, allowing hate-driven content to flourish unchecked. Panelists called on tech companies to take immediate action to:

• Strengthen content moderation systems.
• Enforce community standards that prevent the spread of hate speech.
• Collaborate with civil society organizations to counter online extremism.

The conversation also touched on the lack of accountability and transparency in Big Tech’s response to hate speech, emphasizing the need for policy interventions and regulatory frameworks to curb the misuse of social media platforms.

A Call to Action

As members of the Alliance Against Islamophobia, we stand in solidarity with the victims of online and offline hate.

This panel reinforced the urgent need for collective action—both within communities and through advocacy with policymakers—to demand accountability from Big Tech and safeguard vulnerable groups from the harms of digital hate.

We thank the Center for the Study of Organized Hate for organizing this essential dialogue and bringing these critical issues to light.

Together, we must work to dismantle the systems that enable hate and violence, both online and in the real world.