Digital Hate Speech as a Non-Traditional Security Threat in South Asia

Abstract

The adoption of digital communication technologies has radically changed political social interactions, communication and information sharing in South Asia. Social media has grown possibilities for democratic engagement and freedom of expression, but has also helped the widespread, rapid spread of online hate speech, misinformation and extremist narratives. Digital hate speech is increasingly no longer just a human rights issue, but a major non-traditional security threat that can impact on social cohesion, political stability, communal harmony and regional security. Digital hate speech is not like the traditional form of military hate speech and spreads across international boundaries, rapidly through communication channels online and frequently brings about real-life violence against religious, ethnic, linguistic and cultural minorities. These challenges are especially acute in South Asia, where societies are diverse and there are historical and social grievances, and where the Internet is widely used. In this article, the authors consider a new phenomenon, digital hate speech, to be a non-traditional security issue, and discuss its evolution, motivations and consequences in South Asia, focusing on Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The study uses Human Security Theory, Securitization Theory and framework of Social Identity Theory and Network Society to examine link between online hate campaigns and radicalization, political polarization, communal violence, electoral manipulation, and cyber-enabled extremism. It also assesses current state of the legal and policy context, including the protection provided under constitution and existing cybercrime laws, as well as the international human rights instruments, including Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech. The fight against digital hate speech is vital not just for the protection of minorities' rights, but also for ensuring peace, the resilience of democracies and enduring human security in South Asia.

Keywords: Digital Hate Speech, Non-Traditional Security, Human Security, South Asia, Social Media, Religious Extremism, Minority Rights, Cybersecurity, Online Radicalization, Human Rights.