Abuja: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed serious worry about the increasing spread of hate speech facilitated by digital technologies powered by artificial intelligence (AI). The Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu SAN, voiced this concern during a roundtable event commemorating the 2025 International Day for Countering Hate Speech. He emphasized the threat hate speech poses to democratic values, social cohesion, and human rights.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Ojukwu highlighted that hate speech is not merely a threat to individual dignity but also a direct attack on democratic values and social cohesion. It violates the right to dignity, freedom from discrimination, and the right to participate in public life without fear of suppression or violence. This year’s theme calls for an examination of the intersection between technology and human rights, challenging society to reflect on AI’s dual role as a developmental tool and a potential amplifier of harmful narratives, including hate speech.
AI, particularly in its generative form, is reshaping how information is produced, consumed, and disseminated. Technologies that drive innovation are also capable of generating, amplifying, and targeting hate speech with unprecedented speed and reach. This scenario poses dangers to the enjoyment of privacy rights as guaranteed by section 37 of the 1999 Constitution. Through algorithmic targeting, manipulated images, deepfakes, and automated bots, hateful narratives can evade regulatory frameworks, amplifying their impact.
Ojukwu warned that if left unaddressed, these technologies could incite violence and reinforce dangerous stereotypes. He urged vigilance, unity, and action both online and offline to defend dignity, truth, and justice. He called on stakeholders, especially media, youth, and digital platforms, to collaborate in building a Nigeria where human rights are respected, protected, and fulfilled for all.
Furthermore, Ojukwu reissued a 12-page Advisory on Countering Hate Speech, initially released on June 18, 2023. Similarly, Ms. Adwao Kufuor, a senior human rights adviser to the UN Resident Human Rights Commissioner in Nigeria, conveyed greetings from her superior, Mr. Mohammed Tall. She reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to support NHRC in combating the menace of hate speech both offline and online.
Mr. Hiliary Ogbonna, Senior Human Rights Adviser to the commission, pointed out the media’s role in the dissemination of hate speech, especially in politics. He reminded attendees of the need to ensure clean politics free from hate speech, warning that uncontrolled hate speech in the political sphere can lead to multiple human rights violations, including voter suppression and electoral violence.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that in July 2021, the UN General Assembly acknowledged global concerns over the exponential spread of hate speech. The resolution called for increased efforts to counter discrimination, xenophobia, and hate speech, in line with international human rights law. June 18 has been designated as a day to celebrate Countering Hate Speech.