Hate speech conceptualization: A preliminary examination of hate speech indicators and structure
The way hate speech is combated and prosecuted should depend on its conceptualization. No exact, unified definition of hate speech, however, exists. With help from interdisciplinary experts, the present paper attempts to draw out a framework for its better understanding by providing a list of concrete hate speech indicators and their rationale. A preliminary exploratory examination of the structure of hate speech, performed on comments related to migrants, indicated that denial of human rights and promoting violent behavior play a central role in the network of indicators. Having a set of quantifiable indicators could benefit human right activists, educators, analysts, and regulators by providing them with a pragmatic tool for hate speech assessment.