ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the nature of disablist hate speech over the internet, using examples of some of the most common words that are used as slurs against disabled people. It outlines some of the most common forms of disablist hate speech: trolling, flaming, RIP trolling, cyberbullying, cyberstalking, swatting, online impersonation, doxxing, online sexual solicitation, and the use of graphic images as weapons against people who have photosensitive epilepsy. The chapter highlights the case of Sophia Weaver and her mother Natalie, who have been relentlessly trolled by people with online disablist hate. It then examines the options open to individuals and groups who wish to respond to hate speech online. The chapter also focuses on four major social media companies which have adopted policies against hate speech: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram, and then it discusses the rise of “hate speech havens” – areas of the internet such as Gab and Reddit where hate speech flows unchecked.
