July 5, 2022, 2:48 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Even though it sometimes seems that way, the internet is not a lawless space. To keep it that way, law enforcement relies on people who don’t look the other way when faced with threats and hate speech.
Social media has fundamentally changed the way we communicate in recent years. Under the guise of distance and sometimes even anonymity, extreme statements are made. It should be clear to everyone: Hate and incitement on the internet are far from trivial offenses. Racist insults, incitement to hatred, or defamation are also punishable online. Anyone who encounters such attacks or is subjected to them should report the relevant posts or comments immediately.
Recognizing Hate Posts as Such
Not every comment is immediately recognizable as a hate post. Also, not every offensive comment is equally prosecutable. In Germany, for example, a number of symbols are banned online under the criminal code, as is a public call to commit crimes or incitement to hatred, which involves calling for violence against specific groups.
Moreover, trivialized or excessive depictions of violence are not allowed. The same applies to insults, slander, defamation, threats, and coercion, as well as a host of other acts that are also punishable in the offline world.
But how can one recognize such hate posts? It’s not always easy, as the posts are not always emotional and may sometimes be disguised as jokes. Often, however, such posts contain a denigration of a particular group or person. If you have a bad feeling about a post, you should take a closer look. How are certain keywords used and in what context? Is something or someone being denigrated or objectified? Posts that call for specific actions and/or legitimize existing violence should be viewed particularly critically.
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React Immediately
If you see a hate comment, you should react as soon as possible. You can engage in a discussion with the person. Many people remain passive in the face of hate posts; pointing out that the statement in a post is not acceptable and should be questioned can make a significant difference.
If you don’t want to engage directly, you can also help by documenting and reporting hate speech. Many official bodies, such as the BKA (Federal Criminal Police Office), also advise this. There are specialized agencies for reporting hate posts. This is possible, for example, at the Respect Reporting Center, supported by the Youth Foundation of Baden-Württemberg but operating nationwide, which is also recommended by the Federal Criminal Police Office.
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Delete First, Then File a Complaint Against Hate Posts
On the homepage, internet users can describe the case. The address of the relevant website and their own email address must also be provided. Screenshots documenting the hate speech can also be uploaded. The Respect team reviews the report and, in the event of a legal violation, requests the deletion of the post from the respective site or network operator. According to the information, the authors are also reported, especially in cases of incitement to hatred.
You can also report hate posts to the network where the post was made. There are usually direct mechanisms for this, such as a report button or a contact point. The operators are also increasingly working with the relevant authorities, such as WhatsApp.
Connection to the Public Prosecutor’s Office
The Lower Saxony Central Office for Combating Hate Crime on the Internet has also taken up the fight against hate crime online nationwide. On this site, supported by the Göttingen Public Prosecutor’s Office, you can easily report posts or comments containing hate and incitement via an online form.
Important: Victims who also provide their contact details here enable law enforcement to obtain a criminal complaint from them if necessary. In the case of so-called application offenses–such as insult, slander, or defamation–law enforcement agencies cannot otherwise take action.
Sources
- dpa
- No Hate Speech