Algorithm for Change

In 2024, CILAR, in partnership with the CRRF National Anti-Racism Fund, launched a series of hackathons in collaboration with the Toronto Public Library to empower underrepresented Canadians to address hate speech through AI-driven solutions. Participants took part in a two-part hackathon where they learned to detect and counter hate speech while developing innovative tools to influence corporate algorithms and promote equity. The experience fostered a strong sense of community and encouraged participants to take active roles in combating algorithmic bias and advancing diversity in the tech industry. The final showcase offered teams the opportunity to pitch their ideas in front of a panel of expert judges, highlighting the creativity and impact of their solutions.

Learn More About the Program

Winning Project: Hate Shield

Team Members

Vishnu Rajasingam – A global digital transformation leader with 25+ years of experience, committed to advancing diversity and equitable access in tech.
Lae Schmidt – A translation services and data science professional with 14+ years of experience in communication, client services, and solution-oriented innovation.
Fatima Abdillahi - Technology leader with deep expertise in AI strategy, data governance, and digital transformation across media, education, and startup environments.
Victor Szabo – A library worker and developer passionate about social media discourse, known for building a custom AI moderation bot and YouTube bias detection tools.

The Winning Solution:
The team developed Hate Shield — a responsive tool to detect and report online hate speech and harassment. The platform enables users to upload links, text, or screenshots and rate the severity of content. It uses a multi-model AI system, including RoBERTa, Twitter RoBERTa, DehateBERT, and the Vidgen Model, to analyze and score hate speech with high accuracy.

‍Impact:
By combining accessible UX with cutting-edge AI, Hate Shield empowers users to identify, evaluate, and act on harmful content online. The project was recognized for its practical application, social relevance, and innovative use of technology to counter hate speech at scale.

Algorithm for Change

Winning Project: Hate Shield

Showcase Gallery