Hate on the internet as a threat to people’s safety

This paper considers the problem of the expression of hatred on the Internet, especially with regard to the issues of personal safety. An attempt is made to determine the reasons for the use of hate speech and to assess its various consequences. Having analysed a number of definitions of the term hate speech, the author refers to several pieces of research into the subject. Furthermore, the author, on the basis of existing sources, assesses the scale of the phenomenon, as well as the extent to which it constitutes a hazard to personal security. Finally, legal actions that may potentially be introduced are considered, as well as are the possibilities for countering hate speech on the Internet.