Regulating online racism in the online age

Cyber-racism has become a major issue of concern for the world community, as it tests two sets of civic values: those of tolerance, respect and civility; and those of free speech1. In the big, and big business, world of Web 2.0 it is not clear whether the model of community monitoring which to date has been the overarching mechanism of managing internet behaviour, is the most effective means of ensuring civil and safe relations across the issues of cultural diversity. This article outlines the main findings of the Cyber Racism Survey conducted as a part of the ARC funded Cyber Racism and Community Resilience Project, in December 2013. Over two thousand Internet users across Australia were surveyed about their encounters with racism online, the impact of these encounters and their responses to same. The survey found that a significant number of internet users are at risk of harm as a result of racism, not only as targets but also as witnesses of racism online, and that a small but prolific group of users are publishing racist content on the internet and broadcasting to a wider audience than was ever possible before. There are similarities with non-online rates of racism but also some interesting differences in terms of action in response to the racist content encountered. When the Racial Discrimination Act (RDA) was developed, and even when the 18C provisions against racial vilification were added, it was not possible to contemplate the effects and importance of the internet and social media to relations across ethic and religious difference.