Hate crime on the internet is a huge problem. Investigators are taking action against suspects in 14 federal states, searching homes, confiscating technical equipment and interrogating people. In 2021, more than 2400 cases will be reported. A high number of unreported cases is suspected.
The police have taken action nationwide against authors of criminal hate messages on the Internet. As part of a day of action to combat hate postings, police authorities in 14 federal states have carried out more than 90 police measures since the morning hours, including house searches and interrogations, according to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA). According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the accused are accused of making criminal offenses, threats, coercion or incitement to hatred online.
Such requests are criminal offenses punishable by up to five years in prison. “Hate and hate speech on the Internet endanger our democracy and prepare the breeding ground for extremist violence,” said Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. You have to show clear limits here and get perpetrators out of their supposed anonymity.
In Berlin, more than 60 emergency services carried out nine searches in several districts and confiscated evidence. They were also partially supported by special forces. There were nine searches and interrogations in Hesse. According to the information, these were aimed at three women and six men aged between 17 and 72 years. In Bavaria, the officers searched eight objects and confiscated mobile phones and laptops, among other things. According to the State Criminal Police Office, the measures were aimed at eight suspects – three women and five men between the ages of 28 and 72.
Recently, the number of cases of hate postings recorded by the police has decreased, the BKA said. According to this, 2411 cases were recorded in 2021, a drop of 7.5 percent compared to the year before. But this is no reason to give the all-clear, it said. Many criminally relevant posts would not be displayed, but only reported to the network operators. Others were voiced in closed forums and discussion groups and thus went unnoticed by law enforcement agencies. “In this respect, a large number of unreported cases can be assumed.”
At the same time, the BKA called for a report to the police if you come across hate postings online or if you are a victim yourself. In some federal states there are Internet portals through which such crimes can also be reported anonymously. Hate postings should also be reported to social network providers.