Hindumisia.ai has released a ‘The Global Anti-Hindu Annual Report for 2022’, presenting an analysis of the anti-Hindu ecosystem and sentiment on Twitter. Hindumisia.ai is a platform to monitor and counter anti-Hindu hate online, leveraging the evolving disciplines of artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP). The platform uses a proprietary algorithm to detect anti-Hindu hate, quantifies it, and visualises it for easier understanding.
Hindumisia.ai’s report drew from tweets collected between March and December 2022 through its AI model and flagged for anti-Hindu speech. The report highlights the source and forms of anti-Hindu hatred detected on the platform.
The report highlights that anti-Hindu hate or ‘Hindumisia’ originates from the colonial period when the British colonisers aimed to establish supremacy over India and denigrated Hinduism, framing it as inferior or primitive. The British colonisers propagated misinformation and stereotypes about Hinduism, eroding and undermining culture and traditions. The report states, “This historical bias laid the groundwork for the anti-Hindu sentiment prevalent today.”
“The consequences of this online hate are far-reaching and dangerous. Online hate speech and discrimination often translate into real-world violence and bias, posing a significant threat to the safety and well-being of the global Hindu community,” said the report.
Hindumisia.ai sourced live 24×7 data from Twitter and sampled it based on relevant topics. The watchdog then ran the tweets through an AI model, flagging anti-Hindu content. The flagged tweets were validated before considering for reporting. The watchdog also identified the usual suspects by reviewing monthly data to determine ‘handles of interest.’ The watchdog also identified the top 50 handles responsible for propagating anti-Hindu hatred after aggregating all tweets by their Twitter handle for the period. Notably, the watchdog only included handles with over 1,000 followers as of February 2023.
The Funnel of Anti-Hindu Hatred
The watchdog sourced about nine million tweets and fed them through the AI model. About a million tweets were sent for processing, and the AI model flagged about 5 per cent or 445,115 tweets, potentially propagating anti-Hindu hatred.
The report segregates the flagged tweets based on their ‘Hate Intensity’ to provide a visual representation. Out of 445,115 tweets flagged by the AI model, 5.7 per cent of tweets were found to be ‘Moderate’, 25.9 per cent of tweets were found to be ‘Severe’, and 68.4 per cent of tweets were found to be ‘Toxic.’ The report states, “We used quantitative techniques to analyze a vast dataset of 445k tweets to ensure that our approach is both manageable and effective. This involved leveraging the same methodologies we used for our monthly reports.”
The Ecosystem
The watchdog’s process for sourcing and flagging tweets relied on automation entirely. The watchdog took a quantitative approach, allowing it to verify the dataset and select prominent Twitter handles to include in the report. The watchdog took this approach to mitigate the possible inaccuracies, stating, “like any AI model, ours is not infallible.” The report further says, “This careful validation process ensures the exclusion of misleading data, thus enhancing the overall reliability of our report.”
The watchdog identified 401 ‘handles of interest’ and 12,471 tweets. Notably, the number of flagged tweets peaked in August 2022. The data also shows there was an overall decreasing trend in the period. The report further states that the decreasing trend exists as 37 out of the top 100 ‘handles of interest’ were suspended during the year. The watchdog said that 3,148 flagged tweets were associated with the 37 suspended handles, representing 25 per cent of the tweets flagged for anti-Hindu hate.
The watchdog’s top 50 handles promoting anti-Hindu hate over Twitter feature journalists, academicians and media organisations. Furthermore, certain handles in the top 50 list have been withheld in India. The list features Indian American Muslim Council, CJ Werleman, Audrey Truschke, Khaled Beydoun, Pieter Friedrich, Ashok Swain and Mohammad Zubair in the top 50 handles propagating anti-Hindu sentiments over Twitter. The top 50 list includes media organisations such as The Wire, The Print and Feminism in India as well.
Anatomy of Anti-Hindu Hate
The report states that anti-Hindu hate is influenced by various factors, including “historical tensions, political developments, media narratives, and online discourse.” The report added, “The prevalence and nature of anti-Hindu hate may vary depending on the specific context and location, but it has been observed to occur in different forms such as hate speech, discrimination, and even physical violence.”
The report highlights that in recent times, there have been numerous instances of anti-Hindu hate speech and violence, more so in the context of communal tensions and conflicts. The anti-Hindu hate speech and violence include the desecration of Hindu temples and religious symbols in certain regions, violent acts such as murder and rape, and online targeting of Hindus on social media through hate speech and propaganda.
“The role of media and online platforms in shaping public perceptions and attitudes towards Hindus is also significant. There have been concerns about the biased reporting of incidents related to Hindus, which can fuel negative stereotypes and prejudices. Additionally, online echo chambers can reinforce existing biases and promote extremist views,” the report said.
The watchdog also identified certain triggers for anti-Hindu hate in 2022. The watchdog clarified that the identified hashtags were not used to source or flag tweets but as a “convenient label for misrepresentation.” The report highlights certain hashtags triggering anti-Hindu hate on Twitter, segregating the triggers for each month. The report also identified the top 3 hashtags – #KashmirFiles, #NupurSharma and #LeicesterHindusAttacked – as the top triggers for hate against Hindus over Twitter.
Anti-Hindu Hate Disposition
The watchdog defined anti-Hindu hate disposition as a mischaracterisation of Hindus and Hinduism based on “animosity, discrimination, or hostility.” The report said, “It encompasses an inclination to harbor and express hatred, prejudice, or unfair treatment against individuals who identify as Hindus or practice Hinduism.”
“This disposition can manifest in various forms, including derogatory language, stereotypes, acts of violence, or systemic discrimination targeting Hindus based on their religious beliefs, cultural practices, or social identity. We present to you the the most common form of hate observed,” the report added.
The report segregates the ‘handles of interest’ under six dispositions – Anti-Hindu, Fearmongering, Fake News, Anti-Brahmin, Caste Activism and Sikh Activism – to present the most common form of hate encountered over the micro-blogging platform.
The report clarifies, “Caste discrimination is a reality that needs to be countered and resolved. Unfortunately, there are some handles that exploit caste divisions to attack Hindus and Hinduism. They have been included in our analysis. However, there are several other handles that are involved in caste activism without maligning Hindus or Hinduism. Care has been taken to exclude them from this list.”
The watchdog has defined the six dispositions as follows:
- Anti-Hindu: “Attack Hindu religion, culture, forms of worship etc; use epithets.”
- Fearmongering: “Promote fear over Hindutva, Hindu Terror, Hindu nationalism etc.”
- Fake News: “Leverage amplification factor; peddle fake news about Hindus.”
- Anti-Brahmin: “Involve in promoting anti-Brahmin hate.”
- Caste Activism: “Facade for anti-Hindu and/or anti-Brahmin hate.”
- Sikh Activism: “Facade for anti-Hindu hate.”
The report further highlights seven prominent individuals – Rishi Sunak, Tejaswi Surya, Sadhvi Ritambara, Venkatesh Prasad, Nambi Narayanan, Actor Madhavan and Vivek Agnihotri – who were targeted over Twitter. The report further said that the hatemongers primarily are organisations, media, academia and activists.
Conclusion
The report said, “The anatomy of anti-Hindu hate represents a distressing reality that demands our attention. The Hindu community has long endured the brunt of hate, intolerance, and discrimination, causing profound grief and devastation.” The report further said, “This report aims to serve as a clarion call, urging us all to confront anti-Hindu hate head-on and strive for a world guided by the principles of pluralism and understanding. It is time for us to stand united against hate and prejudice, promoting acceptance, respect, and appreciation for the diverse beliefs and practices within the dharmic traditions.”
The report said, “We hope that policymakers, media personalities, politicians, researchers, and the general public stand in solidarity with the Hindu community and all those affected by hate and discrimination, working tirelessly to build a world where everyone is treated with dignity and reverence.”
“Efforts to counter anti-Hindu hate demand a comprehensive approach. This includes fostering interfaith dialogue and fostering understanding among different religious and cultural groups, as well as advocating for policies and practices that uphold the principles of pluralism and equality. Holding accountable those responsible for hate speech and hate crimes through legal means is crucial,” the report said.
“Furthermore, combating anti-Hindu hate involves collaboration with media and online platforms to promote responsible reporting and counter hate speech and misinformation. Education and awareness campaigns play a vital role in fostering a better understanding of the diverse beliefs and practices within the dharmic traditions, challenging negative stereotypes and promoting positive narratives,” the report said.
The report concludes, “Overall, addressing the root causes of anti-Hindu hate requires a nuanced understanding of the complex factors at play. By working together, individuals, organizations, and governments can take concrete steps towards creating a society rooted in pluralism, respect, and harmony for all.”
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