The Internet: The Battle (Flame War?) Heats Up

Last year, the Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents reported that neo-Nazis were gaining access to the Internet, and were relying on computers to transmit their hatred. This trend has continued at accelerated rates as hate groups employ Usenet and e-mail to spread their hatred. As well, the Worldwide Web (WWW) is being used to allow Nazi groups and supporters around the world to make their materials available in Canada.

While some strides are being attempted in Europe, the legal challenges posed by the Net regarding Canadian law are well-documented (see "Hate on the Internet" below). The Internet allows material prohibited in Canada from entering this country without interruption or legal challenge. But even as community groups, legislators, lawyers, and government agencies seek to find new ways to fight hate in cyberspace, it is imperative also to seek out and vigorously implement non-legislative solutions to the problem.

Neo-Nazis such as Ernst Zundel, who are based in Canada are using websites, and there are dozens of such locations around the world which do not fall under the domain of Canadian law. In addition, neo-Nazis and Holocaust deniers such as Canadians Marc Lemire, George Burdi, and "Stormtrooper 88" are posting their hate on newsgroups. While many of these are devoted to racist views and topics, they are also actively posting on non-hate groups which cover such topics as music, art, and even sewing!

Ken McVay, a resident of Vancouver Island, has been actively fighting hatemongers on the Net for several years. He is the Director of the Nizkor Project, which is compiling an on-line library designed to combat Holocaust deniers through extensive research and wide dissemination of the facts, including through links to several of the racist sites themselves. McVay and others are routinely on- line to refute the racist, anti-Semitic diatribes and "evidence" that the Holocaust never occurred. As well, the Nizkor website provides a resource for researchers who want to investigate the claims of hatemongers on the Net.

McVay is among those who promote free speech on the Net, in the belief that it is easier and more effective to deal with Nazis when they are in the open and you can expose and refute their lies. But he also works closely with the League and other organizations on pro-active educational initiatives, as described below. Even as government and community agencies try to develop a solution to hatemongering on the Net which is both legally and technologically sound, the neo-Nazis are continuing to use the Internet to further their goals. It is imperative to work quickly to develop a comprehensive solution to cyberhate.

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