PROCLAIM: Polarization, Radicalization and Polarization, Radicalization and extremism Online– identifying Covert hate speech in state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence technologies and social Media

PROCLAIM confronts one of Europe’s urgent and invisible threats: covert hate speech (CHS). Unlike overt hate speech, which is regulated by the EU laws, covert hate speech hides behind seemingly neutral language protected under freedom of speech to spread hateful ideologies and incite violence, fueling polarization, radicalization, and extreme beliefs. It also bypasses EU laws and, importantly, is spreading rapidly via AI technology. Without decisive action, covert hate speech erodes democratic values and citizen trust. PROCLAIM pioneers the first European, interdisciplinary strategy to dismantle covert hate speech. Our world-leading consortium unites experts in political theory, law, AI technologies, psychology, and dissemination to deliver innovative tools, updated legislation, and safer digital spaces. Together, we strengthen Europe’s democratic resilience. The consortium advances with an urgent case study by investigating the understudied role of recent AI technologies, operating as a new bridge between CHS and extreme radicalizing views. We offer unique solutions to covert hate speech. It combines three distinct approaches: theoretical analysis, empirical analysis, and countermeasures.