Over 180 missions: nationwide raid: 60 searches for agitation on the net

During an action day against hate and agitation online, the police searched dozens of apartments nationwide and heard numerous accused. As the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) announced, the law enforcement authorities with over 180 police measures were carried out in more than 140 investigations against criminal hate messages. More than 65 search resolutions were implemented, numerous accused were heard.

Singing and insulting

Among other things, the accused is accused of incitement, the insult of politicians and the use of indicators of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations. Some investigation was about the reward and approval of crimes. According to BKA, around two thirds of the criminal statements were assigned to the right spectrum.

“Digital arson”

The North Rhine-Westphalian Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) said: “Digital arsonists must not be able to hide behind their cell phones or computers.” The minister told the German Press Agency: “Many people have forgotten the difference between hatred and opinion.”

In NRW, 14 of the procedures that the action day are concerned with. So an accused is said to have written on X (formerly Twitter): “” Heil Hitler !! Again. We are German and a successful nation. Male foreigners out. “

The day of action took place for the twelfth time. The BKA, which coordinates the day of action to combat criminal hate posting with the authorities of the federal states, has been determining a significant increase in cases recorded for years. From 2021 to 2024 (10,732 cases), the number of police -known cases more than quadrupled. According to BKA, the agitation actually increases on the one hand, on the other hand, the central registration office for criminal content on the Internet (ZMI) is also uncovered more and more punishable content.

The Federal Criminal Police Office called on citizens to file a complaint if they come across hate posts on the net or have themselves become victims of online agitation. It is also important to report such posts to the providers of social networks and to delete criminal content.

Coalition agreement provides for changes

Since this is not always easy, the black and red coalition has decided to create a digital protection law. It should improve the legal status of those affected and also enable anonymous hate accounts with punishable content. Platforms should provide interfaces to law enforcement authorities so that relevant data can be automatically and can be called up quickly.

The “Respect registration office!” On the DPA request that the platforms urgently had to take on more responsibility and implement concrete security measures. The organization Hateaid, which was located in Berlin, criticized, platforms such as X or Facebook ignored notes and reports too often.

Digital violence can affect everyone

Digital violence “runs through all parts of society,” emphasized “Respect!”. From educational offers at schools it is known that many young people and young adults were faced with hatred and agitation on the net almost every day. “Many of them – both individuals and entire groups – feel left alone in dealing with digital violence.”

The registered content is not only digitally hurtful, but often also worked into the realities of life of those affected, reports the registration office. Social worker Claudia Otte-Galle from the non-profit organization Hateaid: “It rarely happens, but it definitely happens that digital violence turns into analogous violence.” The advice knows serious cases in which sustainable calls to reputation had occurred to depression or anxiety disorders that those affected should have changed their place of residence. However, awareness of the problem has grown.