Digital hate speech and othering: The construction of hate speech from Malaysian perspectives

Hate speech is a phenomenon that affects communication and undermines multicultural society by disrupting intercultural engagement. The internet’s euphoria allows media around the world to witness troubling rise of vitriolic language. Moving beyond Euro-America hate phenomenon, cross-cultural nuanced ethnography has evolved in Malaysia. Therefore, challenge protecting against discrimination, dehumanisation, incitement violence while preserving individual freedom expression seems be contextual when defining speech. A series three different online focus groups which consist total 22 participants were conducted gather insights from civil experts build concrete definitions understand construction Malaysian perspective. Hence, it tries explore extent how social act as platform exacerbates othering discourse sphere. This study contributes academic discussions about public sphere, creation meaning, discourses, ensuing cultural change, well understanding trajectories across digital spheres utilising for discussion.