MUNCIE, Ind. -- Hate groups are taking advantage of the expansion of cable television and the Internet, spreading their messages to millions, says a hate crimes researcher.

Hundreds of pages have been created on the World Wide Web by various hate groups, including the Ku Klux Klan, skinheads, religious sects, anti-gay, radical political organizations and anti-government, said Bryan Byers, a criminal justice professor at Ball State University.

"In spreading their message, hate groups have moved from distributing leaflets at shopping malls, parking lots and rallies to posting information on the Internet," he said. "These groups are becoming more and more sophisticated about distributing information online."

Cable access channels also have become a haven for hate groups. Under federal guidelines governing cable television, operators must provide equipment and air time to any group, individual or organization that makes a request.

"In many communities, you’ll find a local Klan, patriot or militia organization with its own half-hour program during prime time on a regular basis," said Byers, who presented his findings on hate crimes committed against the Amish during an international conventional in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1997.

"Hate groups have been on mainstream television for about 10 years due to the increasing popularity of daytime talk shows," he said. "However, these shows don’t give hate groups a whole lot of credibility because the audience at home usually doesn’t buy into the message."

Byers believes the main danger with home pages on the Internet and regular public access television shows is the type of information presented to the public.

The typical hate group’s message is simple, many times blaming a single racial group or religious sect for society’s problems. Information is often tilted against one side with incorrect or misleading statistics.

"The problem at this point is the public’s ability to gauge the truthfulness of the information," Byers said. "Anyone can put anything on the Internet or television and make it believable."

While many hate groups are expanding into cyberspace or jumping into broadcasting, the general public seems to be paying little attention.

"However, electronic access and the impressive presentation of graphic information can give these groups credibility unless the information is challenged," Byers said.