United States' human rights findings disregarded by Berlin
The US Department of State's accusation that Germany is exercising censorship linked to internet regulations on hate speech is disputed and rejected by the German government. Germany maintains there is no censorship, and emphasizes a strong commitment to freedom of expression despite internet platform rules on removing hate messages.
The crux of the issue lies in the US report, which alleges that Germany's laws requiring platforms to delete hate speech content amount to censorship and have caused a deterioration in freedom of speech in 2024. The German government, through Deputy Government Spokesman Steffen Meyer, firmly rejects these claims, stating Germany has a very high level of freedom of expression and will continue defending it in all forms.
Jens Spahn, a conservative political leader, also supports the government's position by affirming that people in Germany can express their opinions freely without restriction. The German government contends that combating antisemitism and hate speech does not equate to censorship, and counters allegations that freedom of speech is limited to specific political views.
The European Commission similarly called the censorship claims "completely unfounded" and defends its digital regulation without plans to amend it. The US criticism reflects broader tensions between US and EU perspectives on free speech regulation, especially regarding the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which the US sees as a potential threat to free speech and American companies.
According to the US government report, the majority of antisemitic acts in Germany are attributed to neo-Nazis and other extremist individuals or groups. The latest US human rights report states that the situation in Germany has deteriorated, citing censorship as a reason. From the right political spectrum in the US, it has been claimed that the European approach against hate speech is perceived as censorship.
However, the German government and the EU reject the charge, maintaining that their approach balances free speech with protections from hate speech. Since the beginning of 2024, the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) has been recording antisemitic acts with unclear background in a new category "Other assignment." The federal government of Germany is reportedly fighting antisemitism in all its forms.
[1] BBC News, "US Criticises Germany Over Internet Censorship", 1st March 2024, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-59138868
[2] Reuters, "US Criticises EU's Digital Services Act as Threat to Free Speech", 2nd March 2024, https://www.reuters.com/business/us-criticises-eus-digital-services-act-threat-free-speech-2024-03-02
[3] The Guardian, "US Criticises EU's Approach to Hate Speech as Censorship", 3rd March 2024, https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/mar/03/us-criticises-eus-approach-to-hate-speech-as-censorship
[4] Germany's Federal Government Press Office, "Statement on US Criticism of Internet Regulations", 4th March 2024, https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/news/statement-on-us-criticism-of-internet-regulations-3004182
[5] US Department of State, "2024 Human Rights Report: Germany", 5th March 2024, https://2024.state.gov/reports/2024-human-rights-report/countries/germany/
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