GuestXR partners hold a webinar on hate speech in extended reality platforms
GuestXR partners Dani Shanley, post-doctoral researcher from the University of Maastricht, and Esen Küçüktütüncü, PhD candidate at the Institute of Neurosciences of the University of Barcelona, recently participated in the webinar “Hate Speech in the Metaverse”, hosted by the Immersive Democracy Project on June 1st, 2023.
Drawing on research from psychology, ethics and linguistics, they discussed how the use of language, tropes, and online practices can all contribute towards the generation of bias and hate speech in extended reality platforms, as well as the affect this has on various individuals and communities.
Drawing on the notion of responsible innovation, they also explored a number of ways in which these messages could potentially be prevented or mitigated, introducing tools from value sensitive design and speculative thinking.
The Immersive Democracy Project is part of the European Metaverse Research Network and explores new insights for transdisciplinary debates on the following questions, among others: How can the metaverse be designed to be inclusive and open? How can immersive technologies contribute to strengthening democracy? What measures can be taken to counter the instrumentalization for hate, radicalization, and polarization?
