Digital hate speech and othering: The construction of hate speech from Malaysian perspectives

Abstract

Hate speech is a phenomenon that affects communication and undermines multicultural society by disrupting intercultural engagement. The internet’s euphoria allows media around the world to witness the troubling rise of vitriolic language. Moving beyond the Euro-America of hate speech phenomenon, cross-cultural nuanced by ethnography has evolved in Malaysia. Therefore, the challenge of protecting against discrimination, dehumanisation, and incitement to violence while preserving individual freedom of expression seems to be contextual when defining hate speech. A series of three different online focus groups which consist of a total of 22 participants were conducted to gather insights from civil society and experts to build concrete definitions and understand the construction of hate speech from a Malaysian perspective. Hence, it tries to explore the extent how social media act as a platform that exacerbates the othering discourse in the online sphere. This study contributes to the academic discussions about the public sphere, and social media in the creation of meaning, discourses, and ensuing cultural and social change, as well as understanding the trajectories across digital spheres by utilising online focus groups for discussion.

Keywords:

• Digital hate speech
• cybertroopers
• culture
• othering
• Malaysia

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all individuals who helped us with this project, without their support and guidance it would not have been possible. Special thanks to our Research Assistant Ms. Noramira Fatehah Azman for providing a lot of resources needed in completing our project. This research is funded under Fundamental Research Grant Scheme FRGS/1/2021/SS0/UITM/02/15 and Research Ethics Approval from UiTM REC (REC/12/2022 (MR/1038).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme FRGS/1/2021/SS0/UITM/02/15.

Notes on contributors

Norena Abdul Karim Zamri

Dr. Norena Abdul Karim Zamri is a research fellow at Institute of Malay and Civilizations (ATMA), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). Before joining Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, she served as a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Communications and Media Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Melaka. She was an alumnus of the faculty since her Diploma. Before joining UiTM, she worked as a lecturer and Programme Coordinator at Quest International University, Perak. She holds a Ph.D. in Social Science and Humanities from Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), Perak. She was appointed as a graduate research assistant during her studies and research officer before enrolling as a postgraduate student at UTP. Norena has published several international refereed journals and presented at several conferences locally and abroad as an active researcher. Her research interests are new media and history, Malay studies, cultural studies and media, mass media, and communication.

NurNasliza Arina Mohamad Nasir

Dr Nur Nasliza Arina Mohamad Nasir is a senior lecturer at Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and is currently researching on Public Relations, Islamic Communication, Islamic Work Ethics and Communication and Media Studies.

Mohammad Nurhafiz Hassim

Dr. Mohammad Nurhafiz Hassim is a senior lecturer at Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and is currently researching on New Media and Communication and Media Studies.

Syaza Marina Ramli

Syaza Marina Ramli is a lecturer at the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), while currently serving as a Coordinator for Information and Publication Unit at UiTM Communication Department. Her research focuses mainly on Communication Management, Corporate Communication, Liberal Communication, and Media Studies.