The dark side of the Internet

The relation of anti-semitism to the media has always been intense. This theme has always been pervad- ed by an “ontological” virality. With the rise of the web – viral by definition – the post-WWII democrat- ic taboo against anti-semitism has been weakened due to its entering a no man’s land free of all controls and restrictions. The antisemitic galaxy on the web exhibits the traits of a closed self-referential, sectari- an group. The code words, the commonplaces and usual clichés of anti-semitic prejudice, however, make deep inroads within the web and contribute to re-legitimize those themes beyond sectarian audi- ences. What was once considered an abhorrent prejudice can now be easily found in the guise of one opinion alongside others. After a rapid birdeye view of the far-right in Europe, this paper examines a number of diverse websites which share the same anti-semitic prejudice disguised in various ways.