Hate Speech Soars on Social Networks

Hate speech is on the rise online, particularly on social networking sites. A new study registered about 11,500 hate-affiliated web pages, up 20% from last year, along with a growing number of terror-related "how to" sites. "The spike is not in traditional websites in the United States," a rep tells CNN. "It's more global and almost all in the social-networking area."

But homegrown terrorists are also active on the web. Colleen LaRose, the woman known as 'Jihad Jane,' has been on the center's radar for about a year, a rep says. "We ask, 'Are they just coming out of the woodwork?' and the answer in every single case is the Internet link." The challenge to law enforcement officers is deciding which rants are worrisome, the study says.
(More hate speech stories.)