Abstract

The creation of podcasts in 2004 created a new world of Internet audio entertainment. With easy distribution and relatively cheap cost, Holocaust deniers transitioned from the traditional medium of ink and print in the form of books and pamphlets into modern Internet mediums like podcasts. This thesis argues that spearheaded by Ernst Zündel and his 1990s “Another Voice of Freedom” radio broadcasts series, Holocaust denialist podcasters framed the Holocaust as a freedom of speech issue instead of disputing the actuality of the Holocaust, as was maintained by denialist book authors such as Richard Verrall, Arthur Butz, Carlo Mattogno, Nicholas Kollerstrom, and Thomas Dalton. Through his dislike of anti-hate laws, reverence of the American First Amendment as the bulwark of freedom of expression, and his characterization of deniers as martyrs for the battle for freedom to express denialism, Ernst Zündel spearheaded a trend by Holocaust denialist podcasters to accentuate the importance of freedom of speech in their denialist rhetoric instead of solely distorting the Holocaust. The shift in Holocaust denialist discourse results in a version of anti-Semitism that caters to free-speech absolutists who would not support Holocaust denial otherwise. This problem requires striking a nuanced balance between the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and freedom from hatred. Instead of censoring Holocaust deniers, Shoah education needs to refute Holocaust denialist claims as part of an effort to confront anti-Semitism.