Taking a Stand Against Online Hatred: 12 Under Scrutiny in Hesse for Hateful Postings
Twelve individuals in Hessen under investigation for posting hate speech online. - Twelve individuals detained in Hesse due to alleged offensive speech incidents.
It's a new day, and the authorities are on the move - this time, taking on cybercrime across Germany, with a specific focus on combating hateful postings. As revealed by the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and the Hessian State Criminal Police Office (LKA), these operations are aimed at rooting out criminal hate speech.
In Hesse, the investigation has singled out 12 individuals, with one woman and 11 men between the ages of 28 and 73 hailing from Frankfurt, Gießen, Marburg, Wiesbaden, and various districts like Lahn-Dill, Limburg-Weilburg, Main-Kinzig, Marburg-Biedenkopf, Rheingau-Taunus, and Vogelsberg.
These suspects find themselves under the microscope for a range of charges, including inciting or condoning crimes, spreading hate speech, and hurling online insults. In fact, some of the accused have had previous run-ins with the law.
One of the criminal activities under investigation includes posts in a Facebook group advocating for the murder of others, as well as comments on a YouTube video that support violence.
Coinciding with this Hessian effort, nationwide enforcers executed 65 search warrants and interrogated numerous suspects. According to the BKA, these actions were part of the 12th action day against hate postings across all 16 federal states, targeting various realms of politically motivated crimes, with a substantial portion linked to the extreme right.
Addressing the significance of these measures, Hesse's Interior Minister Roman Poseck opined, "Radical and extreme forces try to exploit people with supposedly simple solutions and conspiracy theories. They stoke and spread hate and incitement, thereby polluting the political and social climate."
Underscoring their stance against hate and incitement, the security authorities have been unambiguous in their stand, making clear that the online realm is not a lawless zone. As Poseck pointed out, "These measures are more crucial than ever given the current threat situation from right-wing extremism."
Right-wing extremism persists as the most serious threat to our democratic order and security. The police reports from Hesse echo this fact, revealing a nearly 60% surge in crimes associated with right-wing extremism in 2022, along with an increase in incidents of propaganda, incitement to hatred, and insults. The number of violent crimes also rose by 22 cases, reaching a total of 70.
Among the nationwide investigations, two-thirds of the criminal hate postings can be traced back to the extreme right, as stated by the BKA. There have also been isolated cases from the areas of left-wing, religious, and foreign ideologies, or undetermined categories.
Common offenses worldwide include incitement to hatred, the use of symbols associated with unconstitutional or terrorist groups, the endorsement of criminal activities, and slanderous remarks.
The wave of online hate speech has risen dramatically over the years, according to the BKA, increasing over fourfold from 2021 (2,411 cases) to 2024 (10,732 cases). One reason for this increase is the greater "illumination of the dark field."
Citizens who come across such content are encouraged to report hate postings to local authorities or through anonymous online platforms available in many federal states, and to prompt social media sites to remove inappropriate content. The authorities continue to collaborate in Hesse, with the LKA and BKA working tirelessly to gather evidence and take legal action against those responsible for these atrocious acts.
- Online Hate Speech Crackdown
- 12th Action Day
- Hate Crime Investigations
- Wiesbaden
- Cybercrime Battle
- Hate Postings
- Politically Motivated Crimes
- Right-Wing Extremism
- Social Climate Pollution
- Hessian State Criminal Police Office (LKA)
- Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA)
- Germany
- Frankfurt
- Marburg
- Lahn-Dill
- Limburg-Weilburg
- Main-Kinzig
- Police Crackdown
- Internet Hate Speech
- Incitement to Hatred
- Unconstitutional Groups
- Public Reporting
- The specified investigations, known as the 12th Action Day, have led to the scrutiny of 12 individuals in Hesse, with some accused of promoting or condoning crimes, spreading hate speech, and making online insults, which are linked to the extreme right and considered politically motivated crimes.
- The ongoing crackdown on online hate speech, coordinated by the Hessian State Criminal Police Office (LKA) and the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), extends beyond Hesse, as general-news reports reveal a surge in hate crimes and right-wing extremism across Germany, with the majority of criminal hate postings traced back to the extreme right.
