Can Artificial Intelligence Predict The Spread Of Online Hate Speech?

The rise in online hate speech and the way it is reflected in the offline world is a hot topic in politics right now. The internet has given everyone a voice, which clearly has positive implications for the way citizens can publicly challenge authority and debate issues. It's fairly commonly assumed that this form of hate speech, particularly when encountered alongside other factors such as social deprivation or mental illness, has the potential to radicalize individuals in dangerous ways, and inspire them to commit illegal and violent acts. Just as terrorist organizations like ISIS can be seen using hate speech in videos and propaganda material intended to incite violence, racist and anti-Islamic material is thought to have inspired killers like Anders Breivik, who killed 69 youths in a 2011 shooting spree, and the 2019 Christchurch mosque shooting in which 51 died. So far these links between online and real-world actions, though common sense tells us they are likely to exist, have been difficult to prove scientifically.