Online content moderation during conflict

Giovanni de Gregorio*, Nicole Stremlau

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

War increasingly has a digital dimension. Recent conflicts around the world have underlined the role of social media spaces in providing channels to fight propaganda and denounce atrocities but also facilitating governments to share disinformation or hate speech that contribute to inflaming conflicts. In this chapter, we underline how social media spaces are critical channels influencing conflicts focusing particularly on online hate and disinformation. Issues of censorship, online hate speech, and disinformation during conflict are a huge concern given their potential to exacerbate violence and erode election integrity. Yet how and when social media companies respond has long been an overlooked and under-addressed problem, particularly in countries beyond their priority markets. This chapter underlines the role of social media in moderating conflicts through artificial intelligence systems and the inequalities in this process. The first part of this chapter underlines the role of content moderation in times of war. The second part explores the inequalities in the field of social media and conflicts. We conclude by underlining potential paths to address this situation, particularly though systems of oversight, information intervention and crisis protocols.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationHandbook of digital politics
EditorsStephen Coleman, Deen Freelon
PublisherEdward Elgar Publishing Ltd.
Chapter17
Pages259-270
Number of pages12
ISBN (Electronic)9781800377585
ISBN (Print)9781800377578
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 Nov 2023
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Conflict
  • Disinformation
  • Hate speech
  • Moderation
  • AI
  • Global south

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