Exploring the Role of Algorithms in Online Harmful Speech

The topic of online harmful speech — from harassment and cyber-bullying to terrorist recruitment and media manipulation — is a growing focus of academic research and government regulation. On June 29 and 30, 2017, the Berkman Klein Center, the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, and the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), a London-based think tank, co-hosted “Harmful Speech Online: At the Intersection of Algorithms and Human Behavior” to discuss how market dynamics, behavioral drivers, laws, and technology contribute to the spread of harmful speech online and inform measures to constrain it. This report provides a sample of the conversations that took place during the event.