Anti-South Asian hate speech on X surges 240% in US, Indians at centre amid H-1B row: Report

Anti-South Asian hate speech on X surges 240% in US, new report reveals. Hate targeting Indians and other South Asians has risen sharply online in the United States, with a new report linking the increase to immigration politics, economic anxiety and the growing visibility of the community in American public life.The monthly volume of anti-South Asian hate posts on X jumped 240% between January 2024 and June 2026, rising from 12,904 to 43,843, according to a report by the Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH).The report, titled “The Rising Tide of Anti-South Asian Hate in the United States”, published on Sunday, examined online posts using the United Nations definition of hate speech. Researchers also reviewed posts to exclude criticism that did not meet that threshold.Researchers found more than 542,000 hateful posts targeting South Asians in the US on X between January 2025 and June 2026. Five of the six months with the highest volume of such posts came towards the end of the period studied.Indians at centre of immigration and jobs debateMore than 70% of H-1B visa holders are Indian, according to the report, making Indians a frequent target when the programme becomes part...