U.S. human rights report disregarded by Berlin authorities
In a recent U.S. Department of State 2024 human rights report on Germany, it is acknowledged that freedom of speech is generally respected by the German government. The report, however, does express concerns about restrictions on freedom of expression connected to manifestations of antisemitism.
The report notes an increase in antisemitic incidents in Germany, but the assessment linking these acts to immigration from Syria, Afghanistan, and Turkey is questioned. The Federal Criminal Office (BKA) in Germany has introduced a new category for antisemitic crimes where the phenomenon area cannot be clearly determined, starting from the beginning of 2024.
However, the U.S. report does not claim broad government censorship in Germany. In fact, the German federal government has rejected claims by the U.S. Department of State that Germany has restricted freedom of speech.
According to Steffen Meyer, deputy government spokesman in Berlin, there is no censorship in Germany. This sentiment is echoed by Jens Spahn, leader of the Union faction, who also rejected accusations from Washington regarding freedom of speech in Germany.
The regulations requiring internet platforms to delete hate messages in Germany are non-negotiable, according to the Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs. These regulations have been a subject of debate, with some, such as JD Vance during his campaign, emphasizing the importance of American values such as freedom of speech.
It's important to note that critics such as Human Rights Watch have expressed concerns that the overall 2024 human rights report from the State Department under Secretary Marco Rubio is scaled back and politicized, omitting significant categories of rights violations and potentially downplaying abuses to favor allied governments. However, this critique addresses the structure and breadth of the report globally rather than a specific allegation of censorship in Germany.
In summary, the 2024 U.S. report does not provide recent official evidence of systemic censorship by the German government, and Germany’s freedom of expression protections remain largely upheld according to the report.
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