Fighting hate speech online: What do the major parties promise in their election manifestos?

Again and again politicians address hateful comments against themselves.

What do you want to do against the hate speech on the net?

Analysis of the election programs before the federal election.

Berlin - For a moment it was as quiet as a mouse at the CSU party conference. Markus Söder quoted from emails that he received. They are permeated with hatred, agitation and aggression. "You dirty Nazi", "you vermin belong in the gas chamber", "we want to cut off your tail so that the human scrap Söder cannot multiply": Bavaria's Prime Minister appears moved when he reads this out - and then speaks it out himself : “That can't leave you unaffected.” Söder announces “bitter resistance” against hate speech.

It is not the first time that Söder has made such insults against himself publicly.

Other politicians have also been verbally attacked in the worst possible way for a long time.

And not just them.

Society has repeatedly stated that hate comments are a major problem.

But what do politicians want to do about it?

After the federal election * there could be a course of action.

Merkur.de

has therefore looked up what the parties currently sitting in the Bundestag write in their election programs on the subject of hate online.

Electoral manifestation of the Union: "Break the spiral of brutalization of language"

CDU *

/ CSU *:

In its election manifesto on page 114, the Union formulates a separate entry on “Fighting hatred and agitation on the Internet”. Social media are important for the exchange of opinions and democratic decision-making. But the "spiral of brutalization of language and political debate" must be broken. As? The CDU and CSU remain vague for the time being: "With all means available to the defensive constitutional state and a self-confident democratic society."

This is followed by the proposal in the “Program for Stability and Renewal” * to be able to initiate “investigations by the law enforcement authorities in particularly serious cases without reporting”. How this should work exactly remains open; there is also no mention of a limit from when this severity level begins. The Union advocates a “multitude of preventive instruments” and free offers of help for those affected. Victim attorneys should look after particularly difficult cases, and there should be psychosocial support for traumatized victims. In addition, Chancellor candidate Armin Laschet's * election program addresses the platform operator's terms of use. This “virtual house right” should not influence the formation of political will."To this end, we particularly want to adapt the law of the general terms and conditions in the German Civil Code in accordance with the constitution."

The CDU and CSU advocate bans on symbols of hatred.

In its own program for Bavaria, the CSU mentions another point that affects the staff in the judiciary.

Specialized units in the form of "hate speech public prosecutors", as in Bavaria, should exist throughout Germany.

Video: What is Hate Speech?

What can everyone do against hate speech on the Internet?

SPD before the federal election: "Consistent action against hate crime on the Internet"

Hate speech on the internet corrodes our society.

Election program of the SPD

SPD *

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Chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz * speaks a lot about "respect". In this context, the Social Democrats repeatedly address the issue of “hate” in the election manifesto. Descriptively, it says in the “Future Program” *: “Where this respect is missing, our society falls apart. Hate speech on the Internet corrodes our society. ”The SPD opposes hatred and agitation“ with all determination ”.

As part of the future mission “Digital Sovereignty in Germany and Europe”, it says on page 16: “To protect our democracy and the security of individuals, we also need consistent action against hate crime, fraud and other crimes on the internet.” Law enforcement authorities “adequately” equipped both technically and personally. The vague formulation is used again directly: "If there are sufficient actual indications of a criminal offense, it must be possible to identify suspects." Which means may be used for this is not addressed. Instead, the SPD says that the protective provisions in the Criminal Code and Network Enforcement Act (NetzDG) ​​* should be further developed.In addition, the SPD campaigns for binding rules in Europe (Digital Services Act).

But civil engagement is also necessary.

That is why the SPD supports organizations against hatred on the Internet.

The Social Democrats are also positioning themselves on a much-discussed measure: There should be no real name obligation on the Internet.

Hatred on the net: AfD is for the abolition of the Network Enforcement Act

AfD *

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The word “hate” appears in the AfD's election manifesto with the title “Germany.

But normal. ”* Not before.

In general, the party writes: "The AfD is committed to a rapid improvement in the organization of the judiciary, to strengthening our legal system and to effective legal protection for citizens." In the chapter on "Media" from page 164, the party emphasizes the importance of freedom of expression.

Any censorship of expressions of opinion is an attack on this fundamental right.

Since the formation of political will cannot be influenced unilaterally, platform operators, as a “quasi-oligopoly”, have to be obliged to respect the freedom of expression of the users.

“'Fact checkers' and opinion leaders are not allowed to receive state funding,” writes the AfD.

In addition, “vague notions of 'political correctness'” would stifle public discussion with “bans on language and thought”.

The AfD demands the abolition of the NetzDG.

In addition, there should be a central reporting point that people affected by legal violations on platforms can contact.

"At the state level, there should be focus justice centers for law enforcement on the Internet."

FDP election program on hate comments: consider blocking accounts

FDP *

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The Free Democrats underline the "free and impartial competition of opinions". According to its election slogan “There has never been more to do” *, the party stands for an open culture of debate that “promotes and protects diversity of opinion”. However, the state has an obligation to take decisive action against crime, hatred and agitation on the Internet.

In the thematic block on “Protecting freedom of the press and freedom of expression” from page 38, the FDP writes that the prosecution of criminal offenses on the Internet should become more effective. The Liberals also want to abolish the NetzDG. So far it has set "a one-sided incentive to delete content and puts the decision on the limits of freedom of expression in the hands of social networks". In the eyes of the FDP, however, their influence should be reduced by “institutions of self-regulation as a complaint authority”. "It is primarily the state's task to take action against criminal acts on the Internet." Victims of criminal offenses on the Internet should be given a right to information from platforms and Internet providers. If the perpetrator remains anonymous and does not react, blocking the account is also a possibility.Social networks should also have to name so-called authorized recipients in Germany.

The FDP advocates promoting children's digital skills in school, for example, in order to be able to deal properly with disinformation, hate speech and cyberbullying.

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Posed recording on the subject of hate comments in social networks (symbolic image).

© Thomas Trutschel / photothek / Imago

Federal election 2021: The left also observed more hate messages on the Internet

Die Linke *

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The increase in hate messages attacks the left in “Time to act!

For social security, peace and climate justice ”around the aspect“ media diversity ”(page 128) only as a mention.

The party writes about the power of the internet corporations: “Platform operators may not be obliged to delete content without a judicial decision, nor may large platforms create their own parallel rights without public control.” In the eyes of the party, digital violence must be legally recognized and prosecuted.

This requires competence in the law enforcement authorities.

Green proposal to combat hate speech: representative, civil society platform councils

The Greens *

:

On page 180 of the election manifesto, the party of Chancellor candidate Annalena Baerbock * is dedicated to combating hate crime more effectively on the Internet.

An “effective legal framework” is needed for this.

Those affected should be able to defend themselves quickly against attacks.

Accordingly, the EU's Digital Services Act is to be implemented quickly.

In addition, the Greens are pushing in their “Germany.

Everything is included. ”* To“ Law enforcement authorities with the best possible staff and technology ”.

The employees need clear legal requirements and have to be well trained.

According to the Greens, platform operators, on the other hand, are not allowed to undermine rights, are liable for content and have to uphold basic rights when moderating comments and postings.

A suggestion from the party: "When deciding which content should not have a place on digital platforms, the targeted use of representative, civil society platform councils could be a possibility." In addition, the party suggests that large providers - whoever is included - support independent counseling services for those affected by hatred and agitation by means of a fee. "We want to bundle this in a law for digital protection against violence," it says. The Greens want to create the opportunity to take action against accounts if no perpetrator is identified.

(cibo) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.

This article is part of the "Hate Speech on the Net" * series from 

IPPEN.MEDIA

. In it, we examine the problem of hate speech from different perspectives and want to show constructive ways of dealing with this socially relevant topic. As a medium with a wide reach, an open community is important to us - but rules must be adhered to. We have no place for hate speech. We are part of the Bavarian initiative “Justice and the media - consistently against hate” in order to take action quickly against any comments that may be criminally relevant.