Spain, Spanish Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia (2024), Annual Report: Monitoring Hate Speech on Social Media 2023, Madrid, Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration.

Country

Spain

Title

Spain, Spanish Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia (2024), Annual Report: Monitoring Hate Speech on Social Media 2023, Madrid, Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration.

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Year

2024

Publication type

Research evidence/report

Geographical coverage

National

Area/location of interest

Not applicable - national level

Type of Institution

Public authority

Institution

Spain, Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration / Spanish Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia (OBERAXE).

Thematic focus

Hate speech: Public incitement to hatred or violence

Groups

General population

Key findings

The two target categories to which most hate content is directed are people of North African origin and anti-Muslim hatred (33.7% and 26.2%, respectively). It mostly affects the population of Moroccan origin, which is the second most numerous foreign nationalities in Spain. Out of the 2,655 cases of hate content monitored and reported, 53.7% dehumanised or seriously demeaned the people targeted, and 21.6% incited the expulsion of the immigrant community. The “public insecurity” idea is the most frequent trigger for the observed hate speech (39.5% of cases). The stigmatisation results in the creation of a hostile environment. The monitored online platforms (X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube) removed less than half of the content reported to them in 2023 (49.4% of the 2,655 reported cases).

Methodology (Qualitative/Quantitative and exact type used, questionnaires etc)

Survey - quantitative and qualitative research

Sample details and representativeness

It was monitored the description of the response of the five social media platforms during 2023. The categories of hate speech analysed were: racism, xenophobia, anti-Muslim hatred, anti-Semitism and anti-Roma. The content search procedure was conducted manually through various methods, which may differ according to the specific characteristics and intended uses of each social network. The monitoring encompasses both the main posts and the comments and responses to these posts, which may take the form of text, images or videos, including those that utilise emoticons. The search was confined to the examination of publicly accessible profiles on the social networks (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and X/Twitter), with content disseminated in private groups, such as Telegram, excluded from the scope of this study.

DISCLAIMERThe information presented here is collected under contract by the FRA's research network FRANET. The information and views contained do not necessarily reflect the views or the official position of the FRA.