UN Secretary-General Urges Global Action Against AI-Driven Hate Speech

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on governments, technology companies, and civil society to eliminate hate speech during the Global Conference on Promoting Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue and Tolerance in Countering Hate Speech in New York. Guterres warned that hateful narratives are evolving through the weaponization of new technologies, specifically artificial intelligence, digital platforms, and algorithms, to dehumanize groups and erode global trust.

He stated that in its most severe forms, hate speech incites violence and contributes to atrocity crimes, including genocide and ethnic cleansing. While Guterres emphasized that efforts to curb hate speech must not extinguish freedom of expression, he argued that such freedom must never serve as an excuse for causing or compounding harm.

UN General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman supported the appeal, noting that hate speech often grows from fear and a lack of understanding before being weaponized by malicious actors. Rahman identified dialogue and tolerance as essential tools for restoring trust, a primary goal for the 81st General Assembly session.

To combat these trends, Guterres highlighted the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech and the Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites. He urged a shared international responsibility to address the root causes of hatred and foster mutual understanding to prevent future atrocities.