Promotion of hate speech by Spanish political actors on Twitter

Abstract

By examining the messages published by Spanish political groups on Twitter, this paper seeks to identify the level and understanding of the type and use of hate speech within these groups’ discursive strategy. For this purpose, the topics of 60,209 tweets published between 1 September 2019 and 29 February 2020, by 16 political groups, leaders, and spokespersons of the Congress of Deputies in Spain were analysed. The data reveal a low presence of expressions of hate, most of which do not have a sentimental charge. Despite not observing a high rate of use of this type of expression within the rhetorical discursive strategy applied by political groups, some features associated with this type of expression are identified, more aimed at positioning around issues and specific social groups (immigration), and the greater use of messages published by others, retweeted by these actors for this purpose, among other features.