About this Event
This half day-long symposium at Fordham London brings together professionals from a variety of disciplines to address the pervasive challenge posed by online abuse and threats. This event is dedicated both to raising awareness of the forms and effects of online abuse and to developing robust, practical solutions to this growing problem.
The program includes:
- Quantitative data and detection strategies presented by Signify (online abuse in sports).
- An academic panel featuring Fordham London faculty tackling the difficult intersection of free speech and online harm.
- First-hand accounts of online abuse and advocacy insights from Jesuit Refugee Service UK.
We will conclude with a high-profile, joint event with the British American Project - UK, uniting US and UK leaders in a policy-focused discussion on accountability, legislation, and collective action designed to protect vulnerable communities online.
Agenda
🕑: 02:00 PM - 02:30 PM
Registration
🕑: 02:30 PM - 03:15 PM
Who Draws the Digital Line?: Online Harm and the Fight for Free Speech
Host: Becca Farnum, Academic and Activist
Info: Theory & Understanding: The core academic conversation. This will provide context for the entire day, exploring the question of legal protection amid the uptick in online abuse.
🕑: 03:30 PM - 04:00 PM
Stopping the Spiral: Policy, Platforms, and Hate
Host: Sophie Cartwright, Senior Policy Officer - JRS UK
Info: Advocacy & Societal Impact: JRS UK will explore how political rhetoric and policy, online hatred, and real‑world hate crime feed one another - and how this harms people seeking sanctuary. Grounded in our community’s experience and independent research, we’ll show how dehumanising language, digital abuse and policy are inextricably linked - and why interrupting this cycle is essential to a more just and peaceful society.
🕑: 04:15 PM - 04:45 PM
Data-Driven Defense: Tackling Online Hate Targeting Athletes
Host: Jonathan Hirschler, Co-Founder and CEO, Signify
Info: Data & Technology: Provides quantitative and qualitative evidence of the problem. Signify's expertise in using machine learning to detect and action online abuse in sports will offer concrete, real-world solutions and statistics.
🕑: 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
The Human Toll: A Fireside Chat Regarding the Impact of Online Hate
Info: Personal Testimony & Empathy: The human element grounding the academic and technical discussions. This will provide emotional weight and underscore the severe mental and professional consequences of online abuse.
🕑: 06:00 PM - 08:30 PM
Panel: The State of Hate and Building a More Tolerant World
Host: Lewis Iwu, CEO and Founding Partner, Purpose Union
Info: Policy & Cross-Cultural Solutions: Speakers from Fordham and the British American Project will discuss the problem of online hate – and, crucially, introduce possible paths forward – from a variety of professional perspectives.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Fordham University in London, 2 Eyre Street Hill, London, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00












