The TOHIF Podcast

In this episode we look at how the problem of online hate intersects with the issue of conspiracy theories and disinformation.

The issue is often looked in terms of spontaneous instances of abuse triggered by football events, 'heat of the moment' insults and threats, but research has shown that malign political forces have stoked the fires of hate in football through strategic spreading of harmful conspiracy theories. 

Ciarán O’Connor, Senior Analyst at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) outlines the nature of such conspiracies and how they are spread. Ciarán is then joined by CarrieLynn Reinhard, Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences at Dominican University, and TOHIF's Dr Jack Black to discuss what makes sport such a notable breeding ground for such theories and how their spread can be fought.