A/HRC/42/58
influence of media conglomerates, as well as the hands-off approach of social media
platforms as enabling factors in the spread of white supremacist rhetoric.
26.
Ms. Daniels presented policy recommendations for concrete actions to be taken in
five main areas: a) to specifically name white supremacy, a form of racial supremacism, as
an imminent threat to human life, dignity and rights as an additional iteration of article 9 of
the on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination of 1963; b) to establish a
global database to document white supremacist violence in order to track white supremacist
violence and advance our understanding of the scope of this problem; c) to create
international regulation that holds tech companies accountable for contributing to the
spread of white supremacy, including by imposing fines. To combat the spread of white
supremacy online, we need regulation of tech companies that reaches beyond the borders of
individual nation-states; d) to develop literacies of racism, antiracism and social justice for
those working in the tech industry, to be able to recognize and impede with white
supremacy online when they see it; e) to create de-radicalization protocols for those who
have been exposed to white supremacist content and are vulnerable to its influence.
27.
The Chairperson-Rapporteur asked Ms. Daniels what aspects of racial cybercrime
can be effectively criminalized. He further inquired about the kind of regulations that could
be adopted at international level and how effective these regulations would be.
28.
The representative of European Union sought the expert’s perspective regarding
criticisms raised in some countries that new laws adopted to criminalize certain behaviours
online may be used to close down human defenders’ websites or to criminalize behaviours
that are beyond the scope of the issues addressed by the Committee.
29.
The representative of Morocco noted the importance of racial literacy and of having
people of diverse background in the information and technology sector. He further
emphasized the need to educate and to put forward the contributions of individuals from
different ethnic groups and from different countries in the pursuit of scientific and cultural
advancement. In this regard, he asked Ms. Daniels whether, in her view, education and
putting forward the positive contributions of people from diverse background in the
development of new technologies are effective tools to contain the development of white
supremacy.
30.
The representative of Angola raised concerns about the rapid spread of racial content
online and the lack of effective measures to prevent it and inquired about what States must
undertake to address collectively the spread of White Supremacist ideology online.
31.
The representative of the African Union noted the peculiar nature of the cyberspace,
which is a space that extends beyond national borders. Because of its specific nature, the
regulation of the cyberspace requires the development of an international instrument that
covers all acts, whether they are perpetrated. He further asked Ms. Daniels about what kind
of responsibility Internet stakeholders, such as Internet providers, webmasters and software
developers, should be liable.
32.
In response to the questions posed by the Chairperson-Rapporteur, Ms. Daniels
indicated that incitement to violence and language that may lead to genocide are elements
that can be criminalized. Regarding the question of what regulations are most effective,
especially at international level, she noted that technology companies appear to be more
responsive to fines, than to other types of sanctions.
33.
In response to the concerns raised about the use of legal provisions that aim at
regulating online content against human rights activists, she explained that part of the
vulnerability in these regulations comes from the fact that they define their object in generic
terms rather than specifying the kind of racial superiority targeted. This is why she
recommended specifically naming white supremacy, as a form of racial supremacism.
34.
She agreed with the representative of Morocco regarding the importance of racial
literacy, education and putting forward the contributions of other people and groups from
different regions of the world, including people of African descent and others, in the
development of new technologies. She also indicated that individuals who come from
outside to work in the Silicon Valley represent the ideal audience for racial literacy.
24
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