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criticized Amnesty International Big tech platforms have been accused of fuelling hate and racist violence against Muslims in the UK, amid a series of racist acts against them by far-right extremists.
“In light of the ongoing and widespread racist attacks and anti-Muslim violence in the UK, we must not allow big tech platforms to give the far right an effective means of inciting hatred and organising,” said Pat de Brun, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Tech Programme.
This came in response to the role of social media platforms amid the ongoing racist violence based on hatred of Muslims in the United Kingdom.
“The racist violence in the UK that has spilled onto the streets follows a period in which politicians and others have scapegoated refugees and migrants through dangerous rhetoric and policies,” he added, adding that in this context “social media algorithms have actively amplified and escalated xenophobic hate speech.”
These “harmful” algorithms, he continued, add fuel to the fires of division, misinformation, and hatred.
According to Amnesty International, these algorithms are an integral part of the business model that seeks to collect more of our personal data, noting that this model has enabled the lucrative sector of big tech companies to reap huge profits, “but it has had disastrous long-term consequences for human rights, especially for the most marginalized people in society.”
The organization called for the prohibition of “harmful and highly invasive mass surveillance by major social media platforms and the subjection of their algorithms to strict regulatory oversight to ensure that our rights are protected.”
Since last month, racist violence has continued across parts of the UK with clashes between rioters and police.
Hundreds of rioters clashed with police in British cities and towns, smashing windows at hotels housing asylum seekers from Africa and the Middle East, chanting “Get them out” and “Stop the boats”, in reference to those arriving in Britain in small boats.
