Challenging the spread of denialism
By Nancy Nuñez and Emiliano Rodriguez Nuesch
The rise of denialist narratives is becoming more and more visible around the world, promoted by the spread of conspiracy theories and misinformation on social media.
In previous articles, we’ve looked at how denialism affects how people see historical tragedies and crimes against humanity. Denialism doesn’t just distort facts; it creates an emotional distance from victims and makes serious events seem less significant. It can also foster an environment of hate and suspicion.
In a world where conspiracies are everywhere, it’s important to think about the impact of denialism and how it affects societies globally.
What does denialism imply?
The term denialism describes a mindset where people reject facts or evidence that are clear and widely accepted, especially when it comes to historical, scientific, or social issues. As a “psychological barrier”, it inhibits people from acknowledging or feeling empathy for victims of events like the Holocaust, genocides, and other humanitarian crimes. Denialism has turned into a social phenomenon that strengthens certain ideologies and extremist groups. For example, Holocaust denial is still promoted by certain groups in Europe and the Americas, often by people with antisemitic or nationalist views.
How is denialism addressed?
Denialism is tackled in different ways, each aimed at overcoming the psychological barrier it creates and reducing its harmful effects.
Education and awareness campaigns are key tools. Campaigns like #WeRemember encourage people to learn about historical events and reject denialist ideas. In Rwanda, schools teach about the genocide to preserve memory and prevent future denialism.
Art and storytelling offer powerful ways to engage people emotionally and share historical truths. Projects like Gustavo Germano’s photography series Ausencias make the experiences of victims more tangible, breaking through denialism by fostering empathy.
Research and reports play a role in exposing how denialism spreads. A 2021 United Nations report revealed the prevalence of Holocaust denial on social media, while organizations like Hope Not Hate track online hate speech and denialist trends to support better policies.
Screenshot of #WeRemember Campaign Website
UN Report on Holocaust Denial and Distortion on Social Media
Anti-denialism laws around the world
To combat the harm caused by denialism, several countries have put laws in place to penalize those who deny certain crimes against humanity.
In Germany, for instance, the law makes Holocaust denial a crime, with penalties that can go up to five years in prison. Symbols from the Nazi era are banned, and any praise or celebration of Nazism is considered incitement to hatred. Austria has similar laws, where denying or downplaying the Nazi genocide can result in prison sentences of one to ten years or even up to twenty years in extreme cases. While France doesn’t specifically outlaw Holocaust denial, it does prohibit the promotion or glorification of crimes against humanity, with sentences of one to five years for offenders.
Other countries with similar laws include Switzerland, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Liechtenstein, and Israel. In the Netherlands, although there are no specific laws against Holocaust denial, court rulings have set precedents for penalizing it. Italy also has a proposed project to criminalize Holocaust denial. These laws aim to protect historical memory and prevent the spread of harmful, hateful speech.
The U.S. approach and the debate on free speech
In the United States, freedom of speech is protected more broadly under the First Amendment, even if it includes denialist views. This approach argues that people have the right to express any ideas—even ones that are false or dangerous—because restricting speech could lead to limits on other rights in the future.
But many argue that denialist speech, especially when it fuels hate or distorts traumatic events, should be regulated to protect justice and historical truth. This debate, between freedom of expression and the need to counter harmful speech, shows just how hard it is to strike a balance in a democracy.
The role of social media in spreading denialism
There are points of view that social media platforms play a big role in the spread of denialism and conspiracy theories. These platforms reach huge audiences and algorithms that promote controversial or shareable content help boost this denialist content to go viral, which can make people more disconnected from historical facts and increase social divides.
In an article published in The Guardian, the NGO Hope Not Hate divides online far-right activism into three strands: mainstream platforms (X, Instagram, Facebook), which are not in favor of fascism but strive to combat it, although they may not invest enough in moderation and regulation.
In 2021, a United Nations report analyzed Holocaust denial and distortion on social media. The review found that nearly half of Holocaust-related content on Telegram either denied or distorted its history. On more moderated or regulated platforms, nearly 10 percent of posts on Facebook and 15 percent of posts on Twitter discussing the Holocaust included denial or distorted content.
In this context, social media companies face a tough choice: should they act against denialism as part of their social responsibility, or would that cross the line into limiting free speech? This question remains open, as people debate the role of these platforms in today’s world.
What can we do? Turning compassion into action
Addressing denialism requires confronting the evolving challenges in how we remember, interpret, and communicate history, particularly in an era defined by misinformation and the swift spread of conspiracy theories. Tackling these issues requires a collective commitment and cultivating empathy across societies.
You can take action by supporting organizations across the globe dedicated to combating hate, promoting human rights, and preserving historical truth. For more information consider visiting:
Hope Not Hate is an organization based in the UK that challenges hate groups, challenge hate groups, counters misinformation, and promotes understanding through education and community work.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are global organizations that fight injustice and promote human rights.
Groups like Facing History and Ourselves help teachers and students around the world use history to challenge prejudice and promote respect.
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance works globally to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive and fight denial and antisemitism.
By learning about, supporting, or sharing the work of organizations like these, you can help promote empathy, challenge misinformation, and contribute to a more compassionate world.