Fanaticism, Racism, and Rage Online

Corrupting the Digital Sphere

verfasst von: Adam Klein

Verlag: Springer International Publishing

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

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Fanaticism, Racism, and Rage Online is a critical exploration of digital hate culture and its myriad infiltrations into the modern online community. The book examines radical movements that have emerged both on the fringes of the Internet, as well as throughout the web’s most popular spaces where extremist voices now intermix with mainstream politics and popular culture. This investigation brings to light the different forms of extremist culture on the web, from the blatant hate websites, to the much more invasive faux-social networks, racist political blogs, and pseudo-scientific domains.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. Introduction

Abstract

The rise of Internet extremism is introduced through the story of Dylann Roof, the 21-year-old admirer of hate websites whose virtual words of bigotry graduated into deadly action in 2015 when he killed nine parishioners at a historic Black church. Roof’s story illustrates the disturbing trend of digital hate culture that has been advancing online since the late 1990s, infiltrating mainstream networks. Today, racist groups, extremists, terrorists, and unhinged fanatics have spread across the Internet, flourishing in this space where they now host over 30,000 websites and profiles. Klein establishes how hate in all forms—white nationalist, black separatist, anti-Semitic, anti-Christian, anti-Muslim, anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT), and xenophobic militias—have proficiently adapted their agendas into the user-friendly virtual world, slowly legitimizing extremism and corrupting political discourse.

Adam Klein

Chapter 2. From Bookshelves to Desktops

Abstract

Klein explores the origins of the relationship between information and hate, an unlikely union that has steadily evolved over time through the practices of propaganda and innovations of media. The chapter traces the transformation of hate speech into an “informational form,” from books, to electronic media, into the computer age. Klein chronicles examples such as The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a forgery whose pages purportedly evidenced the Jewish conspiracy to take over the world, as well as the Turner Diaries, a race war fantasy novel later cited as “inspiration” by Timothy McVeigh. Chapter 2 then introduces the early extremists who, in the 1990s, would launch the first hate websites, which currently receives upwards of 800,000 visitors each month.

Adam Klein

Chapter 3. Hate Speech in the Information Age

Abstract

Chapter 3 introduces a theoretical foundation to illustrate how the Internet’s unique properties allow subversive social movements to legitimize their causes through a borrowed network of associations. Klein’s theory of information laundering demonstrates how the constructs of cyberspace—primarily search engines, political blogs, and social networks—can unwittingly take an illegitimate currency—hate speech—and transform it into what is rapidly becoming an accepted form of web-based knowledge. The section further explores how an online information seeker can unknowingly find their way into hate dens that have been designed to appear as educational, political, scientific, and even spiritual in nature.

Adam Klein

Chapter 4. Virtual Pleasure Island

Abstract

Taking a step back, Chap. 4 explores some of the structural, legal, and social concerns central to online hate activity. Klein opens with a recent “Terms of Service” dispute arising from Facebook about whether the world’s most popular social network should ban Holocaust denial groups that now populate its community. The story brings together key factors of online hate, primarily the challenges of having an absolute free speech environment, as well as the critical youth factor where no required controls exist to shield younger audiences from dangerous spaces. Additionally, Klein explores those structural features unique to the Internet that have benefited hate communities, such as the anonymity factor of the web, its decentralized structure, the Internet Service Provider system, and border-free global standards.

Adam Klein

Chapter 5. The Websites

Abstract

Klein brings readers into the world of 25 of the leading hate websites operating today. Like the Internet itself, the network of online extremism is vast. The hate websites, and ideologies they represent, are presented along a spectrum. Beginning with the most outspoken self-identifying white supremacist sites, to the less obvious faux-social networks and community forums, to the faux-information and research websites, to few domains considered by some to be mainstream political organizations, Klein takes a closer look at a primary function of these sites: recruitment of the Net Generation. He exposes some of the ways that these communities have begun to mimic digital youth culture in their sites that offer social networks, music, games, dating, and forms of self-expression.

Adam Klein

Chapter 6. Hate in the Open

Abstract

This chapter focuses on extremism that has surfaced through mainstream websites, like Twitter and YouTube, where contributors are disinhibited to express themselves in ways they never would in the real world. Whether it is a political blog that takes on a mob-like mentality, or a pop culture forum that entertains racist rants, intolerance of this sort is alarming for its ability to intermix with the traditional content and inspire imitations. Klein examines two trends to develop from this environment. The first is the use of social networks as a platform for fanatic individuals to post manifestos before committing violent acts. The second is the recruitment capacity of social media, being exploited by terror groups wishing to release promotional videos and reach impressionable audiences.

Adam Klein

Chapter 7. Deceit by Design: A Two-Part Analysis

Abstract

Klein shifts the focus on digital hate inward to examine the strategic design and driving discourses found in today’s extremist websites. Through a content and frame analysis, the research peels back the presentation, functions, and coded language of hate by addressing two underlying questions: First, how have hate websites designed their homepages and content offerings to generate an air of legitimacy and community in keeping with Internet culture? Second, how have the hate sites framed the modern messages of intolerance intended to target unwelcome races, ethnicities, genders, nationalities, and sexual orientations? Klein digs into the predominant claims and encoded language circulating in the news stories and forums of these sites to expose six common narratives emanating from digital hate culture today.

Adam Klein

Chapter 8. Preserving the Digital Sphere

Abstract

Chapter 8 comes full circle, returning to the other side of the digital democratic sphere where media literacy educators and non-profit organizations have built their own communities for the purposes of combatting online hate and promoting a communication of inclusion. Klein highlights the ways that educators and watchdog agencies are working to monitor and expose radical movements, both on the web and in society. Their initiatives speak to the power of citizen groups that use this same digital space to employ anti-hate campaigns and promote a new vigilance and educational awareness as the weapons against bigotry. Klein highlights the essential role that the younger Net Generation must play in learning to navigate this complex environment, through identifying and ultimately dismissing digital hate going forward.

Adam Klein

Chapter 9. Conclusion

Abstract

The final chapter considers the future of online extremism as we move forward in the digital age. Klein foresees how digital hate culture may well continue on its ascent toward achieving greater perceived legitimacy, global interconnection, and prospective followers. To this end, he suggests that future studies must both investigate and expose the forthcoming manifestations of hate, particularly in the political blogosphere, social networks, and conspiracy theory websites, where extremism is building new inroads into the mainstream. Klein further underscores the social responsibility that must be assumed by the Internet’s true gatekeepers—us. The everyday users and content hosts are charged with the role of custodians, to take on a more proactive stewardship over the Internet, and prohibit fanaticism from finding its home there.

Adam Klein

Backmatter

Titel: Fanaticism, Racism, and Rage Online
verfasst von: Adam Klein
Verlag: Springer International Publishing
Electronic ISBN: 978-3-319-51424-6
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-51423-9
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51424-6