German Police Launch Nationwide Crackdown on Online Hate Speech

German police launched a nationwide crackdown targeting individuals suspected of spreading hate speech and incitement on social media, with over 170 operations coordinated by the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) across all 16 federal states. The campaign focuses mainly on right-wing extremist content, including racist and xenophobic rhetoric, as well as criminal insults against politicians, with fewer cases involving religious or radical left-wing extremism. In North Rhine-Westphalia, coordinated police actions involved multiple cities, executing search warrants and summoning suspects for questioning. NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul emphasized that what is unacceptable offline must also be unacceptable online, condemning digital anonymity for enabling hate speech. The BKA reports a significant rise in hate speech violations, with over 10,700 cases recorded in 2024, a 34% increase from the previous year and a fourfold increase since 2021. Authorities urge the public to report online hate speech as part of ongoing efforts to combat digital extremism and uphold social integrity.