Germany Pushes Back Against Online Hate Speech: Majority Calls for Political Action
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Majority of Germans urge politicians to take action online - Internet-Fueled Hostility: Significant Number of Germans Urge Political Action Against online Hate Speech
Online harassment, hate, and aggressive speech have become an all-too-common experience for many Germans. A recent survey by polling institute Forsa, on behalf of RTL, found that 71% of individuals have noticed such online negativity at least occasionally. This reality check follows the United Nations' declaration of June 18 as the International Day for Combating Hate Speech.
Action Against Online Hate: June 18
According to the survey, 70% of respondents believe the government isn't doing enough to combat online hate speech. Even among AfD supporters, a substantial 55% share this sentiment. However, only 14% feel that current measures against online hate restrict freedom of speech, with 83% disagreeing.
This year, UN Secretary-General António Guterres is particularly concerned about the danger of hate spewing through artificial intelligence and biased algorithms. His message is clear: "We must counter toxic narratives with positive messages and empower people to recognize, reject, and defend against hate."
RTL Germany is backing the initiative, "Together. Against Hate and Hate Speech," for this day. They'll cover various aspects of the impact of online negativity and provide practical tips to those affected, addressing topics like cyberbullying, seeking assistance, understanding legal options, and outlining the Ministry of Digital Affairs' plans.
Germany's Approach to Online Hate Speech
Network Enforcement Act (NetzDG)
The NetzDG is Germany's primary legislation targeting online hate speech. It compels social media platforms with over 2 million users to remove "clearly illegal" content within 24 hours or face hefty fines of up to 50 million euros. They must also preserve the deleted content for at least 10 weeks and submit biannual transparency reports on their handling of the content.
European Union Digital Services Act (DSA)
As an EU member, Germany is implementing regulations based on the DSA, which obliges very large online platforms to address illegal content, including hate speech, promptly and increase transparency about content moderation and algorithm functions.
Future Plans
Future plans include further refining and enforcing the NetzDG, strengthening international cooperation, enhancing transparency, and proactively combatting extremist groups and media that champion hate speech, as demonstrated by the banning of the extremist magazine Compact.
With growing complexity and scale of online hate speech and cyber threats, German policies will continue to evolve, focusing on comprehensive, multi-layered solutions that mesh law enforcement, platform accountability, and international cooperation to maintain democratic resilience against such online attacks.
Base Article: © Stern, 15 June 2025Sources: Forsa, United Nations
Keywords: Online Hate, Hate Speech, Forsa, Polling Institute, NetzDG, DSA, Cyber Threats, Hate Speech Legislation
- As part of ongoing efforts, community policy and employment policies within social-media industries must align with the latest government regulations, such as Germany's NetzDG and the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA), which require platforms to combat illegal content, including hate speech, effectively.
- Recognizing the severity of growing online hate speech and cyber threats, future plans in politics and general-news sectors involve refining net enforcement laws, strengthening international cooperation, increasing transparency, and proactively countering extremist groups that propagate hate speech.
