In 'Hacking Hate', a chilling study helmed by Simon Klose, the sinister grasp of far-right influencers on social media and the physical world is fearlessly explored. The film has My Vingren, a Swedish investigative journalist, delve into a treacherous digital landscape populated by muscle-flexing YouTubers, extremist zealots, and manipulative Russian provocateurs, all intent on creating personal and political havoc.
Vingren's journey begins while investigating the activities of a popular YouTuber, known as Golden One. Beyond the superficiality of his residents that range from quoting peoples to showcasing a flawed sense of fashion, it is the revelation of his disturbing followers that include Nordic extremist groups, that becomes an alarming concern. These followers have been associated with violent actions, instances like a 2022 high school stabbing incident. Vingren's efforts are focused on exposing how online hate translates into real-world violence, pointing out to a vicious circle perpetuated by men groomed on social media.
In a telling interview with Anika Collier Navaroli, a former member of Twitter's Safety Policy Team, the dangers of online instigators, such as former President Donald Trump, are highlighted, pointing out Twitter's failure to take action despite warnings, leading to incidents like the Capitol attacks.
'Hacking Hate' reveals that big corporations such as YouTube and Twitter, with Musk's recent acquisition and rebranding, show little interest in regulating users who fuel their profits. Hate speech has emerged as a profitable venture, luring individuals who invest significant time propagating racism and hatred online.
In the film, Vingren's discovery of a man referred to as Vincent, further underscores the extent of this digital menace. Vincent's obscure trajectory, spanning from the West Coast to Moscow's notorious Wagner mercenary group, is unraveled through Vingren's dogged pursuit.
Despite the visual limitations, Klose succeeds in delivering a tense and informative film, using Vingren's story, which gets eventually published in 'Expo', to weave together a coherent narrative constituting different elements connected by the social digital threads.
