‘Hate goes viral’: CMHR talk to focus on rising antisemitism

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This article was published 20/01/2025 (615 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Hate on steroids — that’s how many Jews in Canada today feel about the rise of online antisemitism.

The Centre for Jewish and Israel Affairs says there was a 135 per cent increase in Canada of online antisemitism in 2023 over 2022, much of it related to the war in Gaza. A study by Australia’s Online Hate Prevention Institute found antisemitism on social media worldwide increased five-fold following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, with increases on all major online platforms — with X being one of the worst.

For this reason, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, in partnership with the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada, is bringing in Andre Oboler, CEO of the Online Hate Prevention Institute, to talk about the rise in online hate and what can be done about it.

Oboler will speak on the topic “hate goes viral” on Holocaust Remembrance Day, Jan. 27, 6:30 p.m. at the museum. Attendance is free but registration is required at http://wfp.to/hategoesviral.

For Oboler, the issue is urgent. “The online world has played a large role in normalising antisemitism and spreading it,” he said over email from his home in Sydney.

Along with the rise in antisemitism, there is growing Holocaust denial and disinformation, he said, with Israel being compared to Nazism, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu being compared to Hitler.

“There was very little attempt to make serious comparisons, instead the similarity is simply asserted. This content distorted the public understanding of the Holocaust itself, even as it seeks to demonize Israel,” he said.

Also of concern for Oboler is a denial by some that antisemitism, online or elsewhere, is a problem in the first place. This includes people excusing it as being just anti-Israel or anti-Zionist.

“This willingness to excuse even blatant criminal activities terrorising the Jewish community is deeply concerning,” he said, citing a rise in such incidents, along with disavowals that they are antisemitic, in Australia.

During his presentation, Oboler will talk about how people can recognize online antisemitism when they see it, speak out when it is safe to do so and report content they see on social media.

Belle Jarniewski says Oboler’s presentation is an effort to bring attention to a significant problem in Canada and around the world.

“There is so much antisemitism, hatred and disinformation online today,” the Jewish Heritage Centre’s executive director said, adding the rise is happening at the same time many people get most of their information from social media.

“Many people don’t know the history of the Middle East, so they just accept whatever they see as true. That’s why it’s so important we focus on this.”

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