Information is easy to spread online, whether it be true or false, especially at this moment in time. With the influx in spread of misinformation, and with the majority of global population having access to the Internet, it is one’s duty to be aware and responsible while further sharing any “facts” or “data”.
The effect of such falsities can be extremely harmful to communities across the globe, which could be seen during the pandemic. In the early stages of the increase in COVID19 cases, when there was only minimal information surrounding it, the surge inspread of false and inaccurate information caused fear and paranoia among the masses.
To curb these types of arising circumstances, the Iamhere movement was formed. #IAmHere International is a global movement working towards making social media a better place. The members defend people being attacked online by trolls and push back against the spread of misinformation by using counter-speech, mainly on Facebook. Beginning as a Swedish Facebook group called #jagärhär, they provide training for their members to better understand “counter speaking and the practical tools for how we can all stand up for what we believe in and help spread other messages”.
These types of movements are very significant in today’s online space, and Nepal’s case is no different. With the population of Nepal being better connected over the Internet, absurd information and suggestions effortlessly spread. “People don’t know that they are spreading misinformation, or even the meaning of misinformation at all”, said Sajju Maharjan, Associate Program Officer at Yuwalaya.
Yuwalaya is a youth led non-profit, non-government organization working for and with adolescents of Nepal. Recently, from the 5th of February to the 8thof February 2022, they organized and completed 4 days of “Masters Training of Trainers on Misinformation, Disinformation and Hate Speech” in collaboration with youthHUB, Plan International Nepal and Digital Rights Nepal. Although, due to the latest rise in COVID-19 cases in Nepal, they had to hold the program online, with people joining them from Hetauda, Sunsari, Jumla, Banke, Sindhuli and Kalikot.
“Today’s generation uses social media more so than ever, and without any prior knowledge on the subject, they share several posts, and comment on them as well”, said Maharjan. “In the training, we discussed about how information appearing in the news and social media are not always correct, and how we can differentiate between the fake and correct news”, she added.
However, it is not only misinformation one needs to be aware of; we also need to be aware of the rampant spread of hate speech online. According to the definition given by Facebook, Hate Speech is anything that directly attacks people based on what are known as their “protected characteristics” — race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, sex, gender, gender identity, or serious disability or disease.
In October 2019, of the 353 cases filed at the Cyber Bureau set up by the Nepal Police, nearly 70 percent were related to online hate and abuse directed towards women. This has only accelerated since COVID-19, as the cases of online harassment has risen to 1268 cases as of November 2021. Despite this increase in cybercrimes, Nepal does not yet have proper laws to deal with it, as all these cases are handled under the Electronic Transaction Act 2008, where cybercrimes has been subsumed under the umbrella term of cyber security.
“What is Hate Speech, the types of words that can be identified as Hate Speech, and how we might be unconsciously using these words; these topics were discussed as well”, explained Maharjan. “We held these discussions in a very interactive way by including case studies and several ways to solve those exhibits”, she added.
“If one has been abused or been the target of hate speech in the online media, 1098, a Child Helpline operated by Child Workers in Nepal (CWIN), is a toll free number used to report these cases”, Maharjan shared.
No one is exempt from this online onslaught, especially not people under the limelight. A recent instance of Hate Speech in Nepal can be found in the comment section of Priyanka Karki’s maternity posts. Slut shaming and body shaming – the online trolls had filled the Nepali actress’s space with harmful words.
Targeting people online with these derogatory words can cause some serious emotional and mental damage, and the same is with spreading misinformation and disinformation as well. As a user of these social media sites, it is one’s duty to build a safe online community by first educating oneself and researching a matter it or before sharing making a statement on it.