Atrás European project FAST LISA: active participation of young people in the fight against hate speech

Purpose: The main objective of the FAST LISA project was the fight against hate speech online through the creation of a protocol and a digital tool with a cross-community perspective. Another objective was to train young people to identify hate speech and provide them with the necessary tools to detect, analyse and neutralise it, creating new positive narratives.

Stimulus/Rationale: In a context of ever-growing means and opportunities for communication, it is vital to understand its impact on people's lives and its role in relationships, as well as the impact it has on coexistence, both online and beyond the screen. FAST LISA emerged in a European scenario where online hate speech represents a growing challenge for national governments. Hate speech is a multifaceted phenomenon involving socio-anthropological behaviours, communication mechanisms, cultural environment, and linguistic processes. Therefore, the project aimed to share and disseminate an interdisciplinary approach involving all the main actors in society and all competences. It also aimed to train new generations in being responsible digital citizens. The project's mission was to create a standard protocol designed for local authorities around the multidisciplinary use of ICT tools, legal knowledge and active participation of young people.

The University of Bologna was the ‘coordinator’ of the project. The other project partners were:

  1. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). Faculty of Law.
  2. Institut fur Angewandte Informatik (INFAI).
  3. Comune di Ravenna (Ravenna).
  4. City Council of Santa Coloma de Gramenet (Barcelona).
  5. Pro Arbeit - Kreis Offenbach (AOR) - Kommunales Jobcenter (PRO ARBEIT)
  6. Universidad degli Studi di Urbino Carlo Bueno (UNIURB)
  7. Tree Agency

The part that corresponded to the City Council of Santa Coloma was the one that was in the section called Work Package 4 (WP4): support to the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in relation to the training of local ambassadors and the organisation of the international camp based in the city of Santa Coloma de Gramenet.

Process: A previous phase, which we call Phase O, consisted of the active search for potential participants in the project, who would eventually become the FAST LISA ambassadors. A series of criteria were established: young people from different situations and places, activism and participation in different spaces in the city, etc. The selection of the profiles was a key process in the success of the project. The selected group received extensive training. There was also a second group that participated in the international camp.

The first phase of the project was to develop a digital tool capable of detecting hate speech and analysing it, in order to create different visual representations of its form and context to effectively counter it. However, several technical problems led to the decision to put more emphasis on the training and offline coaching of the young people so that they could play the role of ambassadors and future drivers and protagonists in the transfer of knowledge and learning to other young people in the city.

Second phase:

  • Capacity Building Programme during which young people were able to develop the tools and resources that enable them to effectively fight against hate speech and to use the FAST LISA tool: training in anti-rumour strategy, differences between rumour, prejudice and stereotype and their impact on coexistence, strategies to dismantle rumours and generate positive narratives; intercultural strategy and the different European models in inclusion and the appropriate attention to diversity; intercultural competences; anti-racist training; training for the design and construction of projects and testing of diagnostics in project design; communication skills and positive conflict management; training in restorative strategy and non-violent communication; session for the analysis of case law on hate crimes.
  • The training aimed to ensure the project's sustainability while equipping participants with transferable skills and knowledge applicable to various areas of personal and professional life, including education, work, and leisure.
  • Design of local action plans to place the fight against hate speech in cities and to apply the FAST LISA tool.
  • International Academy celebration. Groups of ambassadors from the different countries participating in the project, as well as partners from different institutions, shared a space for exchange in Santa Coloma de Gramenet.
  • Local workshops. To pool the perspectives of the project members, apply what they have learned in different workshops, and transmit the necessary tools to curb hate speech.
  • A public consultation to gather proposals from citizens on what collaborative activities could be carried out in the public space in order to improve community relations, generate positive narratives and strengthen social cohesion.

Impact:

  • Capacity building in the implementation of empowerment programmes for young people. Raising awareness among young people about the specific tools, rights and legal protection available to victims of hate crimes. In short, all the skills developed during the process of more than 40 hours of training.
  • Contribution to the acquisition of a complete picture of the legislative and policy tools to combat hate speech and hate crimes online available in Europe and worldwide.
  • Increased knowledge on online hate speech ecosystems in regions where intercultural orientation and the presence of migratory phenomena pose challenges for social inclusion and promotion of respect for diversity, as opposed to social exclusion and the rise of racism and intolerance.
  • Participation of the project ambassadors in other city projects, especially those related to Human Rights (participation in the project and trip to Buchenwald).
  • Reinforced cooperation between public authorities, organisations and community representatives to improve responses to online hate speech.
  • Mainstreaming the fight against hate speech and the importance of building positive narratives into the political agenda. Issues that have been explicitly incorporated under the political responsibility of the Coexistence, Community Development and Civic Service.
  • Constitution of the Youth for Coexistence group, beyond the FAST LISA project, to transfer the values of the project and design a work plan for the city. At the same time, the City Council is committed to reinforcing and accompanying the development and autonomy of the group of young people, whose driving force is the FAST LISA ambassadors.

Key reference documents:

2022 – 2024
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