Operation of Online Hate Speech: A Case of the Violence in Southern Thailand

Abstract

The protracted ethno-nationalist conflict in Thailand's Southern Border Provinces (Patani region) continues, yet the role of digital platforms in fueling this violence remains a critical research gap. This study examines the characteristics and sources of online hate speech pertaining to the conflict. Employing a social listening methodology, a dataset of 1,061 posts and messages was collected from Facebook using the Zocial Eye tool over a one-year period (1 November 2020 – 31 October 2021). The analysis reveals that anonymous pages were the primary producers of inflammatory, one-directional hate speech, while established media outlets' pages were the most influential in shaping community reaction. The operations of hate speech were primarily ex-post event commentary, exhibiting ethnic bias, dehumanization, and violence justification. Crucially, a direct, causal correlation between the detected online hate speech and specific violent incidents on the ground cannot be definitively confirmed. The findings underscore a need for a more nuanced state approach. To achieve sustainable peace, the central government must fundamentally restructure its approach to how hate speech targeting the Malay-Muslim minority is addressed. This requires constructive engagement by delegating the monitoring and counter-intervention tasks to a multi-stakeholder platform. Crucially, the state must collaborate transparently with trusted local and international academics and civil society organizations to develop evidence-based mechanisms that effectively mitigate dangerous speech and cultivate social cohesion.