Germany’s fight against online hate speech primarily targeted at women witnessed active action last week as raids were launched against 45 individuals suspected of spurring misogyny over the internet. Spearheaded by the General Public Prosecutor’s Office in Frankfurt, the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), and other law enforcement organizations, this operation forms part of a larger, coordinated government initiative against misogyny.
In the course of this initiative, action has already been taken against an additional 37 suspects. A joint press release by the BKA and the Public Prosecutor’s Office states that the accused individuals resorted to online platforms to disseminate slander, insults against women, and publicly glorified heinous acts such as rape and sexual assault. Some were even found disseminating graphic content of torture and murder.
Reflecting on the seriousness of the situation, BKA President Holger Münch emphasized, “Hate and violence, both digital and analogue, are threats to our democracy and our society. Online platforms are increasingly becoming breeding grounds for harassment and discrimination, specifically against women. We consciously infiltrate these spaces of hate, identify acts and perpetrators, bring them out of anonymity, and hold them accountable.”
The legal backing for these raids stems from a judgment by the Cologne Higher Regional Court, dating back to June 9, 2020. According to this ruling, derogatory remarks against women can be subject to punishment for incitement under section 130 of the Criminal Code.
The operations were carried out a day in advance of International Women’s Day, demonstrating the authorities’ commitment to using the occasion to underline its drive to hold misogynists accountable and enhance public awareness on the issue.
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