Harmful Speech and the COVID-19 Penumbra

Abstract

There has been a disturbing rise in harmful speech during COVID-19. Many have been shocked by the deluge of malign information, which has disseminated widely and rapidly on account of technological advancement, globalization, and digital interconnectivity. But we should not have been surprised. The historical record reveals that pandemics inevitably lead to an increase in false information and hate speech. This paper makes two central claims. First, the themes of disinformation have remained remarkably consistent across pandemics. We illustrate this through an examination of harmful speech that has spread during three prior pandemics and the current pandemic. COVID-19 is unique only in the ease with which disinformation has spread, amplified, and reverberated over the internet. Second, we argue that COVID-19 presents a unique and valuable opportunity to tackle online disinformation. We highlight three promising avenues for combating harmful online speech that have emerged during COVID-19 and suggest avenues for further inquiry. In so doing, we seek to inspire a discourse of resilience. Technology presents both the problem and the solution; through emphasis on effective measures at combating online harms, we can heed the lessons of the past and provide for a better future and a safer online environment.