TecHRI takes on the rise of online antisemitism, enhances human rights, and harnesses technology for positive societal impact. Read the latest updates here.

WASHINGTON D.C. –  The World Jewish Congress (WJC) participated in the annual Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly on Monday, where Jewish leaders from across North America came together to address the unprecedented challenges regarding Israel’s existence, antisemitic hate crimes emerging across the Diaspora, and the future of Jewish life.

At the General Assembly, leaders, activists, and policymakers collaborated on strategies to strengthen security and Jewish values worldwide, emphasizing solidarity in addressing rising challenges to the Jewish community. Key topics included enhancing the protection of Jewish communities, addressing hate speech and online extremism, and fostering international cooperation to safeguard Jewish heritage and institutions.

Yfat Barak-Cheney, WJC’s Executive Director of the Institute for Technology and Human Rights (TECHRI) and Director of International Affairs, participated in a panel addressing the alarming rise of antisemitism across social media platforms like Telegram and Meta. She was joined by Rick Lane, Founder and CEO of IGGY Ventures LLC; Adam Neufeld, Chief Operating Officer of ADL; and Gretchen Barton, Founder of Worthy Strategy Group. Moderated by Jason Wuliger, Chair of the Domestic Policy & Government Affairs Council at the Jewish Federations of North America, the discussion focused on the evolution of online anti-Jewish hatred, potential legislative actions Congress can take, and the vital work of the WJC Institute for Technology and Human Rights in combating this extreme form of hate.

Read the full article here.

NEW YORK— The World Jewish Congress held the first meeting of the Technology and Human Rights Institute’s (TecHRI) advisory council at its New York offices this morning, coinciding with the UN General Assembly. The closed breakfast meeting brought together key figures to discuss the Institute’s priorities for addressing online hate and advancing human rights through technology. Participants stressed the importance of building broader coalitions with tech companies to enhance transparency and provide researchers with better access to data, facilitating stronger evidence of the link between online hate and real-world harm.

Read the full article here.

NEW YORK – The World Jewish Congress (WJC) today commended Meta's announcement that it will expand its policies to classify the misuse of the term 'Zionist' as a proxy for 'Jews' as antisemitic and Tier 1 hate speech. This landmark decision, following years of advocacy by the WJC, its affiliated Jewish communities, and other organizations, marks a significant step in combating the veiled antisemitism that has proliferated under the guise of political discourse and has skyrocketed since October 7.

Read the full article here.

In its submission to the Oversight Board, the World Jewish Congress highlights the growing concern of online violence and its real-world consequences: 

“The escalation of online violence and its real-world repercussions are observable and deeply concerning. In July 2024, the WJC, in cooperation with Memetica, published a report entitled “From Virtual Vortex to Real Life Violence. The Links Between Online Antisemitism & Offline Terrorism” that analyses this connection in detail and calls for enhanced content moderation, international cooperation, and support for de-radicalization to combat this threat effectively. The report is relevant also to this request for comment, as it offers insights into the use of “third parties” by terrorist organizations to avoid bans on their content and propaganda on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram…” 

Therefore, we recommend that the oversight board upholds Meta’s existing regulations governing the dissemination and posting of terrorist videos. This will protect its users from radicalization and psychological repercussions, while also holding terrorists accountable and prohibiting the unfettered dissemination of their propaganda.” 

To read our full submission click here.  

LATIN AMERICA - The World Jewish Congress partnered with UNESCO, the Latin American Jewish Congress, B’nai B’rith International, and the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, earlier this week, to organize a training addressing the rise of antisemitism online in Latin America following the Hamas perpetrated terrorist attack on October 7th.   

In his keynote remarks, Ambassador Federico Villegas, former Permanent Representative of Argentina to International Organisations in Geneva and former President of the UN Human Rights Council, underscored the intrinsic link between the advocacy for human rights and the fight against antisemitism, saying “neither can one speak nor defend human rights without fighting against antisemitism, it’s as simple as that.” 

Ambassador Villegas highlighted three critical strategies to fight antisemitism: leveraging technology for Holocaust education, reinforcing the commitment to the principles established by the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and initiating key discussions on the impact of social media and AI on society.

Read the full article here.

In an effort to train Jewish community leaders to combat antisemitism, World Jewish Congress, in partnership with CEJI - A Jewish Contribution to an Inclusive Europe, launched the European Union funded Bridges Project.

The training sessions provide a comprehensive agenda focused on understanding and responding to antisemitic online hate speech. Participants engage in interactive workshops, discussions, and presentations led by experts in the field. Notably, participants also had the opportunity to meet with representatives from social platforms Meta and TikTok, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with tech platforms in combating online hate. 

WJC's Director of Technology and Human Rights, Yfat Barak Cheney, emphasized the importance of these trainings, stating, "The Bridges Project is committed to empowering Jewish communities with the tools and knowledge needed to combat antisemitism effectively. Through these training sessions, participants gain valuable insights and develop action plans to address online hate speech in their communities." 

Read the full article here.

BRUSSELS – The World Jewish Congress, together with the American Jewish Committee, B’nai B’rith Europe, B’nai B’rith International, European Jewish Congress, and the European Union of Jewish Students, called on European Commission leaders to strengthen measures to address online antisemitism. The letter addressed to European Commissioner Thierry Breton, European Commission Director-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology Roberto Viola, and Deputy Director-General Renate Nikolay comes following the entry into force of the Digital Services Act (DSA) earlier this week. 

The surge in antisemitic incidents across Europe, both online and offline, has been staggering. This disturbing trend is further exacerbated by the proliferation of Holocaust distortion and the glorification of terror. The impact on Jewish communities is profound, with individuals facing harassment and violence in online spaces. The response of digital platforms to hateful content has been inadequate, perpetuating further fear and frustration. 

Read the letter here.