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READ THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY HERE
Under the guise of defending democracy, the German government is silencing critical voices and punishing ordinary citizens for expressing dissenting opinions online. Germany’s constitutional guarantee of free speech has been significantly eroded. This report exposes how the German government uses the doctrine of ‘defensive democracy’ to justify repressive measures against its own citizens.
It looks at key legislation and institutions that undermine free speech. This includes: laws that criminalise ‘insults’ to politicians, leading to prosecutions for social media posts; an ever widening prohibition on ‘incitement of masses’, which has resulted in prosecutions for criticism of immigration policies; and the “Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV)”, which monitors citizens’ speech and can designate groups as ‘extremist’, effectively stigmatizing political opposition.
The report also reveals how mainstream media outlets, particularly public broadcasters, have become echo chambers for official narratives, while alternative media platforms face pressure and censorship. Despite this pressure, alternative media platforms are gaining popularity, reflecting a growing public demand for more open debate. The government’s actions have alienated voters, with a recent survey revealing that less than half of Germans feel they can express their political opinions freely.
Not only are the anti-speech laws backfiring, fuelling distrust and support for populism, they also threaten the democratic fabric of German political life.
About the author
Sabine Beppler-Spahl is chair of the German liberal think tank Freiblick- institut e.V., which organises the Berlin Salons, and she is the Germany correspondent for spiked. She is also a regular commentator for the German – Swiss Kontrafunk radio. She has written for several German magazines and newspapers. She is the author of Brexit: Demokratischer Aufbruch in Großbritannien (Parodos Verlag).
