In the event of repeated personal attacks on social media, the German Federal Ministry of Justice wants courts to be able to block user accounts under certain circumstances. As the ARD capital studio reported on Tuesday, citing the cornerstones of a “law against digital violence”, such blocks should only take place in the case of “serious violations of personality” if other options such as deleting a posting are not sufficient and there is a risk of repetition.
The target group are “notorious infringers in the digital space”. The ministry initially did not answer a question about the plans. The traffic light coalition agreement already stipulates that account blocks ordered by a judge should be made possible.
The blocks are intended to help particularly in cases where the account holder is not known. He should be informed of a blocking request by the respective platform and given the opportunity to comment. In addition, profiles should be able to be blocked “only for a reasonable period of time”.
More disclosure for those affected
According to the report, the cornerstones also provide for removing the legal hurdles for those affected if they want to know the identity of a hate poster. This is also already indicated in the coalition agreement, which provides for the removal of legal hurdles for those affected and the closing of gaps in information rights.
Around one in four Internet users in Germany has been affected by hate speech on the Internet – among younger people (14 to 27 years) even more than one in three. In March, the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry for Family and Youth presented the #ScrollNotWeg campaign. In addition to supporting those affected, the aim is to strengthen digital civil courage.
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As a transatlantic axis against anti-Semitism, several European countries, the EU Commission and the USA want to take joint action against anti-Semitic attitudes and violence. “An anti-Semitic post in one country can spark violence across oceans, and events in one country are all too easy to find imitators in another,” said Deborah Lipstadt, the US special envoy on combating anti-Semitism on Jan. 30.
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