German politician Bodo Ramelow, the vice-president of the Bundestag, has called for stricter regulation of digital networks after receiving a murder threat via email. The message, sent by a self-proclaimed “Communist Hunter” contained a barrage of insults and a clear threat to Ramelow’s life and the lives of his family members.
The email, which was signed off with “Heil Hitler” stated that Ramelow’s right to life had been forfeited due to his political beliefs and that his family would soon receive explosive devices. Ramelow, a member of the Left Party, has been a vocal critic of social media platforms, citing the lack of accountability and the proliferation of hate speech on these platforms.
In an interview, Ramelow emphasized the need for stronger regulations and accountability on social media, stating that the platforms must take responsibility for the content that appears on them. He also expressed his frustration with the current state of affairs, saying that as soon as he posts a rainbow flag, he receives hundreds of hate comments. Ramelow believes that the anonymity of online users emboldens them to post such content and that the tech companies, in his opinion, have not done enough to address the issue.
The email has been forwarded to the German Federal Criminal Police Office, which has been operating a central reporting hub for illegal internet content since February 2022. The hub is specialized in the effective prosecution of propaganda, hate speech and threats, which have become increasingly common, particularly against politicians.