“Barra!” : an analysis of hate speech amongst Maltese Facebook users

Abstract

What is the nature of online hate speech against migrants in Malta? This study seeks to analyse and interpret the nature of hate speech, specifically targeting race and ethnic origin, reflecting the bigger, unspoken picture of the harsh realities migrants face. This research addresses the scarcity of data trends of hate speech in Malta. An understanding of how Maltese citizens participate in online conversations that directly or indirectly incite hatred is an effective mechanism for conceptualising the continuance of racial polarity in Malta. The presence of hate speech was explored through a content analysis of the public hate comments posted under 12 articles from the most well-known media outlets: Lovin Malta (LM), Times of Malta (ToM), Malta Today (MT), and the Malta Independent (TMID) from 2019 to 2021. The comments pertaining to hate speech were obtained in a period where the contemporary refugee crisis was predominant in Malta. The hate comments were extracted in the context of a racially motivated murder, a protest riot at the Hal Far centre and tragic deaths at sea. Hatred in the context of these events offered a significant quantity of data for analysing the present developments in the Maltese context. The content analysis enabled several themes to emerge: ‘Provoking toxic emotions’, ‘Us vs them’, ‘Blackness as Savages’, ‘Fragile Egos’ and ‘Denying yet affirming Racism’. The analysis and findings in relation to the emerged themes shed light on the fact that topics surrounding migrants and migrant causes are a trigger for hate speech. The commenters’ language and tone around notions of individual and structural violence, condemnations, desires to kill, threats of war and the portrayal of migrants as a threat, were reinforced by occurring on a platform seen by hundreds of thousands. The collected data revealed a number of features of hate speech. Migrants are viewed as intrinsically unworthy of refuge, assistance or sympathy, and as requiring harsh punishment. By presuming migrants as unlawful or in need of repentance, commenters stigmatised and prosecuted blackness. The result of this construct illustrates the complex relationship between migrants and mainstream Maltese culture. Although statements exhibit the insecurities of Maltese persons, it is difficult to discern if hate speech is always motivated by anxiety and fear or is sometimes simply malicious trolling or even a form of entertainment. This research concludes that online discourse within the Maltese ambit may legitimise direct violence, intolerance and discrimination towards a vulnerable ethnic minority group, reflecting that while hate speech is illogical, it is also prejudicial and inflammatory in nature. Six recommendations for future research, policy change, and developments in social work practice are put forward.