In a bid to combat hate crimes online, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt called for a stronger control of digital platforms. The aim of the action day, Dobrindt explained, is to raise public awareness and encourage the reporting of relevant findings to the police, so that authorities can take more effective action.
The minister emphasized the responsibility of platform operators, stating that it is not enough for authorities to act solely on the basis of existing knowledge, but rather, decisive measures are needed. He believes that a common European approach is necessary to enable stronger control in the online sphere.
In the context of the action day, German law enforcement agencies conducted over 180 police operations nationwide, coordinating more than 140 investigations, which included the execution of over 65 search warrants and the questioning of numerous suspects, according to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA).
The investigations cover a range of areas, with approximately two-thirds of the hate posts attributed to the category of “politically motivated crime – right-wing.” The most common offenses include incitement to hatred, the use of symbols of unconstitutional organizations and insults.