U.S. human rights report rebuffed by Berlin
In a recent report, the U.S. Department of State has claimed that Germany has imposed restrictions on freedom of expression, particularly citing censorship related to requirements for internet platforms to delete hate speech messages. The 2024 Human Rights Report by the U.S. State Department pointed out a deterioration in Germany's freedom of expression situation, mentioning that thousands in Europe are being convicted for criticizing their governments, and highlighting concerns about censorship linked to regulations like the EU's Digital Services Act.
However, the German government has strongly rejected these claims. Deputy Government Spokesman Steffen Meyer stated unequivocally that "there is no censorship in Germany" and emphasized that Germany maintains a very high level of freedom of expression which it will continue to defend. Similarly, Jens Spahn, leader of the conservative parliamentary group, affirmed that Germany is a free country where everyone is free to express their opinions.
The German government argues that the allegations misunderstand or misrepresent Germany’s legal framework, which ensures freedom of speech while addressing illegal hate speech consistent with democratic norms. The Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs has stated that such regulations are non-negotiable, and any attempts to compromise them "cannot be part of a deal."
Interestingly, since the beginning of 2024, the Federal Criminal Office (BKA) has been recording anti-Semitic crimes in a new category "Other assignment." According to BKA statistics from last year, 3,016 of the 6,236 anti-Semitic crimes were attributed to suspected right-wing perpetrators. The U.S. government's report attributes most anti-Semitic acts in Germany to neo-Nazis and other extremist individuals or groups.
It is important to note that the U.S. Department of State's report does not mention any new or specific information about the outdated newspaper article from 2018 that stated anti-Semitic crimes with an unclear background would automatically be assigned to the phenomenon area of the right.
The right-wing political spectrum in the U.S. has long claimed that the European approach against hate speech is equivalent to censorship. During the election campaign, JD Vance, the current U.S. vice president, had threatened to withdraw U.S. support for NATO if the Europeans took action against content on Elon Musk's online platform. He emphasized the need for European countries to commit to American values such as freedom of speech.
Steffen Meyer, the deputy government spokesman, defends the federal government's efforts in fighting anti-Semitism. He stated that Germany is committed to protecting its citizens from hate crimes and ensuring a safe and inclusive society for all. The German government's stance on this matter remains clear: while maintaining a high level of freedom of speech, it is essential to address and combat illegal hate speech to uphold democratic norms and public safety.
[1] U.S. Department of State, 2024 Human Rights Report [2] Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs, Germany [3] BKA, Federal Criminal Police Office, Germany [4] JD Vance, U.S. Vice President [5] Elon Musk, Tech Entrepreneur
- The U.S. Department of State, in its 2024 Human Rights Report, raised concerns about censorship linked to regulations like the EU’s Digital Services Act and the German government's policy-and-legislation regarding internet platforms deleting hate speech messages, which it perceives as a restriction on freedom of expression.
- Despite the U.S. Department of State's report, the German government, specifically Deputy Government Spokesman Steffen Meyer and Jens Spahn, leader of the conservative parliamentary group, asserted that there is no censorship in Germany and that they maintain a very high level of freedom of expression, addressing hate speech in a manner consistent with democratic norms.
