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Disability Hate Speech: Interrogating the Online/Offline Distinction

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Online Othering

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Cybercrime and Cybersecurity ((PSCYBER))

Abstract

The chapter examines the ways disabled people might experience othering in online contexts and suggests that an analysis of the political economy of network communications can provide insights into the dissemination of disablist hate speech. Internet companies exist in a deregulated industry driven by advertising revenue. Businesses profit from content that increases media site visits meaning offensive content can prove lucrative. Social policy and legal initiatives to confront online disability hate speech therefore contend with internet company business imperatives. The chapter applies the social model of disability and concepts of public space and the public sphere to the analysis of online communication in order to go beyond the online and offline distinction. Concepts of access can inform the future regulation required to counter online disablist hate speech.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Independent Researcher, Edinburgh, UK

    Philippa Hall

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  1. Philippa Hall
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Independent Researcher, Leicester, UK

    Karen Lumsden

  2. Department of Communication and Media, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK

    Emily Harmer

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Hall, P. (2019). Disability Hate Speech: Interrogating the Online/Offline Distinction. In: Lumsden, K., Harmer, E. (eds) Online Othering. Palgrave Studies in Cybercrime and Cybersecurity. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12633-9_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12633-9_13

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-12632-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-12633-9

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