Survey reveals Israel-Palestine conflict as leading source of online hate speech in Canada

By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - A survey published Tuesday revealed that the Israel-Palestine conflict stands as the predominant topic of online hate speech in Canada this year.

The Survey of Online Harms in Canada 2024, conducted by public policy and leadership think tank The Dais, also revealed that the most commonly cited topics of misinformation in 2024 were "US politicians (principally Donald Trump), scams or fraud, and the Israel/Palestine conflict."

It further highlighted the stark contrast in the experiences of online hate between different demographic groups.

While 61% of White respondents in Canada report having seen hate speech online, this figure rises significantly to 71% among individuals with visible minority identities.

It reported that Middle Eastern Canadians face the highest levels of online hate, with 92% having encountered such speech and 28% reporting direct personal targeting. South Asian and Black Canadians also experience substantial exposure, with 75% and 72%, respectively, reporting similar encounters.

Asked about a TikTok ban, most Canadians support some form of restriction on the social media platform, with 33% advocating for a complete ban and 24% suggesting a ban solely for minors.

The online survey was conducted in April this year with a representative sample of 2,500 Canadian residents aged 16 and older.