Counter Speech Hero is an interactive wall made up of discarded and abandoned smartphones. They provide information on effective ways to engage in dialogue against online hate. During the opening weekend of the After the Algorithm festival, the installation was accompanied by a robot bar on Zwingliplatz.
The interactive installation draws attention to the dangers of hate speech online. The Social Influencer project investigates how hate speech can be professionally addressed in digital spaces. Using methodologically sound approaches such as empathy, alternative narratives and dialogue-based communication, targeted interventions were carried out in comments sections and on social media. In addition, the AI-powered browser extension Hyssop was developed to assist in identifying and responding to toxic comments.
The results of the project are available as a scientific publication by the ZHAW. The installation and the game Counter Speech Hero can be viewed at the exhibition until 29 March. Further information
Photo: Kyra Jetzer (ZHAW)