Learn in the textbookOnline Codes of Conduct and Handling Harmful Information
DefinitionHate speech (ヘイトスピーチ) is speech or conduct that demeans people who share a particular attribute, such as ethnicity or nationality, because of that attribute, and stirs up exclusion or discrimination.
ExplanationOnline, it is easy to post anonymously and posts spread quickly, deeply wounding the dignity of the people targeted. Japan's Hate Speech Elimination Act (ヘイトスピーチ解消法), in force since 2016, makes eliminating unfair discriminatory speech against people from outside Japan a responsibility of the national government and also calls on local governments to act (it sets no penalties).
AnalogyIt is like shouting abuse at a particular group in a public square, except that online it happens without showing one's face and in front of many times more people.
Memory hook"Hate" means hatred and "speech" means expression. Hatred put into words and aimed at people is exactly what the English says.