The Head of the German Federal Criminal Police, Holger Münch, has expressed optimism in the fight against hate speech online, while emphasizing the need for greater cooperation from digital platforms. In a recent interview, Münch highlighted the progress made by the Central Reporting Office for Criminal Content in the Internet, which has issued over 16,000 removal orders and nearly 500 takedown orders in the past year alone.
The office, established in 2022, aims to combat the increasing normalization of online communication and enable effective prosecution of propaganda, hate speech and threats. Münch stated that the office has received nearly 25,000 tips in 2024 and that the agency plans to increase the pressure on perpetrators.
The BKA chief also emphasized the need to review the Digital Services Act, a European Union regulation aimed at reducing the amount of illegal online content and combating digital violence, particularly against children and young people. Münch criticized the algorithms used by some platforms, which he believes can inadvertently promote radicalization by showing users more of the same content.
The official noted that a significant number of crimes are still committed online, including insults and death threats, often targeting political opponents and public figures. He also observed that political radicalization is increasingly taking place online, often affecting younger individuals and that the risk of hate crimes escalating to physical violence remains a concern.