Minister at video portal: Habeck is committed to a European communications portal

The Green Party candidate for chancellor Robert Habeck has suggested a European communications platform as a counterweight to the large providers from the USA such as X, Facebook and Instagram. The basis for this could be freely available content from public broadcasters in Europe, said Habeck on the live streaming portal Twitch in an interview with the moderator Max Knabe, known under the pseudonym HandOfBlood. You can then install a communication platform underneath.

“Then you have a huge content space and a European answer with its own rules of the game,” explained Habeck. The regulation of the major platforms in the European Union has now been clarified. But the technological leaps should not be left to the USA with a right-wing billionaire like Elon Musk and an authoritarian China. “Where is the European X or Twitter? Where is the European Tiktok, the European Instagram?”

In the 21st century, “the really big, strong companies come from the USA or China. Europe has to show that we can do better” or at least are just as good, said the Economics Minister.

More than two and a half hours in the live stream

The suggestion for the conversation on Tuesday evening came from Habeck’s team. After some time to think about it, the boy agreed, as he said. Why Habeck and no other politician? “Robert is the candidate for chancellor who asked,” said Knabe, explaining the Green politician’s appearance.

“If I ruin a nice evening for you, then throw me out again,” said the minister at the beginning. That didn’t happen, and the two ended up sitting at a tiled table in front of the camera for more than two and a half hours.

After initially casual chatting about malt beer as a child; The two covered a wide range of topics, including East Frisian jokes and the marketing of beverage brands via influencers.

“Cool guy, but not a chancellor”

During the performance, the viewers accompanied the stream with numerous reactions in the live chat, i.e. in the form of short written comments. They ranged from “What a chatterbox!” up to “Habeck’s best man”. One person said: “I think he’s a cool guy, but not a chancellor.”

The participants were often busy with other things, i.e. not with the topics that Habeck and Knabe were currently discussing. At times, alleged AfD sympathizers got involved, which was greeted by others with “Nazis out.”

Finally, Habeck and his host talked about better support for animal shelters and possible ways out of factory farming. The e-sports moderator Knabe campaigned for the charitable nature of e-sports. Habeck admitted that he had not prepared for this topic, but he now wanted to find out more.