Instagram Failed To Act On 93% Of Racist, Abusive Comments Targeting Women Politicians, Report Reveals

Instagram has failed to remove 93% of racist and abusive comments flagged for targeting women politicians, a recent report by the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) found.

Disproportionate Abuse Faced by Women of Color Politicians

Among the politicians studied, Vice President Kamala Harris, Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Jasmine Crockett were subject to abuse.

Comments ranged from overtly racist slurs to sexually explicit threats, many of which Instagram left unaddressed, despite these posts being clear violations of its community guidelines.

In the 2020 US Congressional race, it was found that women of color candidates were more likely to receive sexist, racist, and violent abuse online.

The consistent abuse aimed at these women of color is intended to discourage them—and others like them—from participating in public life. 

Instagram’s Inconsistent Enforcement Raises Concerns

The report underscores Instagram’s inconsistent enforcement of its own policies. 

The platform’s failure to act on the majority of reported comments, including those containing explicit threats of violence, questions its commitment to creating a safe space for all users. 

While Instagram claims to catch 98% of hate speech before it is reported, the CCDH study shows a stark contrast between these claims and the reality for women of color politicians.

For example, Harris, as the first female Vice President of Black and South Asian heritage, has been subjected to vile racial slurs and derogatory comments. 

One commenter wrote, “I hate this n****,” while another said, “We don’t want blacks around us no matter who they are.”

This gap in enforcement is particularly concerning as social media platforms are increasingly being scrutinized for their role in perpetuating political polarization and toxicity. 

The report’s findings suggest that Instagram is not doing enough to protect women of color from online hate, a shortfall that could have serious implications for their safety and political participation.

The UK Parallel: Diane Abbott’s Experience with Online Abuse

This issue is not confined to the United States as in the United Kingdom, the experience of Diane Abbott, the first Black woman elected to the UK Parliament, faced a similar trend of disproportionate abuse. 

Abbott has been the target of relentless online harassment, receiving almost half of all abusive tweets sent to female Members of Parliament in the run-up to the 2017 general election. 

This abuse often focused on her race and gender, with threats of sexual violence being a common theme.

Feature Image Credit: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images