One every two days: xenophobic incidents analysed in new report

A new report examining the frequency and severity of xenophobic and racist abuse, intimidation, and violence targeting mainly migrants and asylum seekers has warned that social media companies are fuelling the problem by "failing to take action against those who breach their terms of service."

The Institute of Strategic Dialogue (ISD), a think tank focused on countering extremism, analysed 61 incidents involving such activity which took place in the Republic of Ireland over approximately three months, running up to mid-August.

The vast majority of the incidents targeted migrants and people seeking asylum, while others related to Irish people of colour.

The 61 incidents, averaging out at more than one incident every two days, "likely underestimates the total number of such attacks around the country," the report written by analyst, Aoife Gallagher, states.

It notes that 70% of the incidents "were filmed by the person engaging in the abusive behaviour."

"Those engaging in this activity do so with perceived impunity; they often post their evidence online under their real name, apparently with little fear that they will face prosecution," it says.

In three of the incidents analysed "a vigilante mob attacked an individual after they were accused of serious crimes against children (including sexual assault and attempted kidnapping)."

The evidence given for supporting such accusations was "often flimsy or non-existent," the report says.

Incidents at centres and camps

The report also highlights the growing issue of people filming and hassling people entering and leaving migrant accommodation centres, and posting such footage online, an activity also shown in recent reporting from RTE Investigates.

It notes that people applying for asylum have a statutory right to anonymity under the International Protection Act and says that there has been "a lack of action from the Gardaí to prosecute people engaging in this kind of behaviour, even when they are posting evidence of their crimes online under their real names."

Some 19 of the incidents documented by ISD took place in the vicinity of International Protection Accommodation Service centres, a further 17 incidents took place at or near encampments where homeless asylum seekers were living.

In two instances (one in Kilmacud, south Dublin, another in Coolock in north Dublin) sites where migrants had pitched tents were destroyed or set on fire shortly after videos were posted online showing individuals confronting those living there.

The ISD report says one individual who frequently posts such videos was responsible for 40% of the incidents recorded.

It notes that "despite repeated bans, [he] has continued setting up new accounts on TikTok for his content. In many cases, he appears to have avoided detection using simple changes such as changing a single letter or number in his username."

According to ISD's analysis, this individual is currently on his 16th TikTok account. It further says the same individual was banned from Twitter for making overt and direct threats of violence, but started a new account days later, and that his content was viewed six million times on Youtube.

"These deeply disturbing trends highlight the role that social media plays in enabling this activity to be both encouraged and popularised," the report says.

"Social media platforms are adding fuel to the fire by creating an online environment in which those engaging in this activity can be rewarded with online clout and encouragement."