In Zooming in on Hate, we dive into the complex world of hate speech and disinformation, connecting with leading voices from law enforcement, academia, civil society, policy, tech, and platforms. Together, we explore the causes, real-world impacts, and innovative solutions to make online spaces safer and more transparent.
What if disinformation itself isn’t actually the problem?
In this episode of Zooming in on Hate, Jordy Nijenhuis is joined by Vivian Gerrand to unpack new research into how communities can respond when disinformation contributes to polarisation, social tension, and even violent extremism.
Rather than focusing only on whether information is true or false, they ask what makes certain narratives resonate in the first place. Grievance, distrust, identity, belonging and outrage all matter—and simply providing better facts may not be enough.
Drawing on conversations with practitioners from around the world, the episode explores why local communities could be one of our strongest lines of defence. From trusted messengers and storytelling to prevention, emotional literacy and sustainable funding, this is a conversation about moving beyond fact-checking towards responses that address why disinformation works.
29 Apr 2026
#42 Digital Rights and Democratic Resilience in Africa’s Online Space
What happens when digital spaces expand faster than democratic systems can keep up?
In this episode of Zooming in on Hate, Lydia El-Khouri speaks with Charlie Ngounou, Founder and President of AfroLeadership, about the realities of online hate, disinformation, and digital rights across African contexts.
From limited legal frameworks and uneven internet access to the power of anonymity and the risks of censorship, Charlie unpacks how online harms affect democratic participation both on the continent and within the diaspora.
But this is not just a story of challenges—it’s also about opportunity. Digital spaces are enabling new forms of civic engagement, economic participation, and political expression, even in constrained environments.
29 Apr 2026
#41 Mega Tech and Mega Hate in the Post-Democratic Digital Age
What happened to the early promise of the internet as a space for civic participation, activism, and democratic renewal?
In this episode of Zooming in on Hate, Lydia El-Khouri speaks with Prof. Anna Krasteva from the Policy and Citizens’ Observatory about the transformation of digital spaces from hopeful civic platforms into increasingly hostile arenas of polarization, disinformation, and hate.
Recorded at the INACH Summit in Sofia, this conversation explores how mega tech, political power, and extremist narratives intersect in what Prof. Krasteva describes as a post-democratic digital era. From the transformation of Twitter into X to the rise of fake media ecosystems and digitally mobilized hate campaigns, the episode reflects on how online platforms are reshaping democratic life—and what civil society still needs to answer.
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