Anti-South Asian ‘hate speech’ has exploded online in US, report finds

What the report says

A new report from the Center for the Study of Organized Hate says anti-South Asian hate speech in the United States has surged online, particularly on X, amid a mix of immigration politics, economic anxiety and increased visibility of South Asian Americans in public life. Al Jazeera reported that the study covers posts from January 2024 through June 2026 and focuses on Indians, Bangladeshis and Pakistanis in the US.

According to the report, the monthly volume of hateful content on X rose sharply over that period, and the researchers identified more than 542,000 hateful posts from January 2025 to June 2026 alone. The study says many posts framed South Asians as invaders, job thieves or demographic threats, while slurs and stereotypes about hygiene and cultural difference also appeared frequently. The researchers say they used the United Nations definition of hate speech and reviewed posts to exclude criticism that did not meet that threshold.

The report links the increase to disputes over the H-1B visa program, Trump administration rhetoric about immigration and outsourcing, and broader resentment tied to economic insecurity. It also argues that South Asians’ rising prominence in US politics and media has made them a target across party lines. Al Jazeera said the report describes a pattern in which online abuse spills into offline harassment and violence, citing recent attacks in Utah and Wyoming as examples of that broader climate. The findings underscore how digital platforms can amplify prejudice and normalize anti-immigrant narratives.