United Nations Radio

With hate sites spreading rapidly across the World Wide Web, the UN on Tuesday, brought together internet providers, NGO's, educators, and teenagers to explore ways to prevent what is being called cyber hate.

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Participants cited as examples games that encourage violence against certain ethnic and religious groups, and the broadcast of misinformation, disguised as fact.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said the internet has transformed the way we live But some he said, use this platform to reinforce stereotypes and propagate hate.

"Look no further than last weeks shocking shooting at the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. The alleged shooter was well known for spewing racist venom through the internet and elsewhere. This tragedy is yet another reminder of how some of the newest technologies are used to peddle some of the oldest fears."

No consensus was reached about ways internet regulations or increased security on the web can be implemented.

But panelists agreed that education and critical thinking about the internet must become part of school curriculum and part of parents' vocabulary in order to prevent and protect everyone, especially young people against hate and intolerance.

Diane Bailey, United Nations.

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