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The Censorship Network: Regulation and Repression in Germany Today

liber-net.org

11–20 of 24 posts

Re: The Censorship Network: Regulation and Repression in Germany Today

#11
post #9

It should be alarming how pervasive these efforts have become, especially given Germany's history. There's a near-total lack of public awareness and media opposition on... a number of issues in Germany. Then again, there's probably a lot of Germans who love this.

It is not pervasive. The chart the report shows essentially is a random map of organizations in Germany who are involved in any way with public speech.

Like claiming the FBI is involved with censoring Americans because it is their job to seize certain illegal websites.

Re: The Censorship Network: Regulation and Repression in Germany Today

#12
post #2

Weird to read something from an unknown (to me) organization which claims censorship in Germany when I as a German can't recall any instances in the last thirty years which I would consider censored in Germany. Like I mean yes Doom was censored as a game due to gore/violence. But what else? Have to check the report. But the thing is: Censorship is not the issue in Germany. Disinformation is. We get too much bullshit…

I mostly agree with your points, but there’s one form of censorship that exists in Germany today: internet censorship driven by the commercial interests of right holders and implemented by the major internet service providers. In short: illegal streaming sites can be blocked for access.

Some people might disagree that it isn’t a form of censorship, but it fits the bill: blocking access to information on the sole discretion of 3rd party pursuing its own interests.

Re: The Censorship Network: Regulation and Repression in Germany Today

#13

As a German, I currently don’t see any meaningful censorship via legislation. That said I do see censorship in practicality via public opinion, shaming and hate against you if you speak out against "mainstream" opinion. That said, a lot of the institutions listed here are actually, at least in principle, made to conquer that, not make it worse. And even if I don’t really see them succeeding at making it better I also…

Yes, what the report calls intimidation I perceive primarily to originate in social media echo chambers / cancel culture.

Re: The Censorship Network: Regulation and Repression in Germany Today

#14
post #2

Weird to read something from an unknown (to me) organization which claims censorship in Germany when I as a German can't recall any instances in the last thirty years which I would consider censored in Germany. Like I mean yes Doom was censored as a game due to gore/violence. But what else? Have to check the report. But the thing is: Censorship is not the issue in Germany. Disinformation is. We get too much bullshit…

I mostly agree with your points, but there’s one form of censorship that exists in Germany today: internet censorship driven by the commercial interests of right holders and implemented by the major internet service providers. In short: illegal streaming sites can be blocked for access. Some people might disagree that it isn’t a form of censorship, but it fits the bill: blocking access to information on the sole disc…

I am not sure this counts as censorship. But I agree that copyright violations are likely policed (through copyright holders and their lawyers) more strictly in Germany than hate speech.

Re: The Censorship Network: Regulation and Repression in Germany Today

#15
post #2

Weird to read something from an unknown (to me) organization which claims censorship in Germany when I as a German can't recall any instances in the last thirty years which I would consider censored in Germany. Like I mean yes Doom was censored as a game due to gore/violence. But what else? Have to check the report. But the thing is: Censorship is not the issue in Germany. Disinformation is. We get too much bullshit…

> Trusted Flaggers > 1 Pimmel Affäre > Schwachkopf Affäre Oder zuletzt > https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/baden-wuerttemberg/suedbaden/a... and last but not least: > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bMzFDpfDwc Germany is very much implementing censorship by chilling effect.

Suggesting someone is part of the SS as an insult is something where courts should decide the judgment. Which in fact they did.

I feel some people really want to make Germany more current-usa-free-speach

Re: The Censorship Network: Regulation and Repression in Germany Today

#16
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Trusted Flaggers > 1 Pimmel Affäre > Schwachkopf Affäre Oder zuletzt > https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/baden-wuerttemberg/suedbaden/a... and last but not least: > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bMzFDpfDwc Germany is very much implementing censorship by chilling effect.

I think your examples aren't that much censorship but rather individuals/politicians asserting their rights not to let anybody smear them on social media. The rules which made e.g. insults illegal haven't changed but society stopped allowing anonymous people online getting away with it. Maybe some background for non-German readers on Pimmelgate (Dick gate): Pimmelgate happened when a secretary of state in one of the…

You have not looked into all examples. Trusted flaggers have been used to suppress people they personally disagree with.

Just recently the wrong comment caused another home invasion by the police that drew wide criticism

> https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article68fa5facc014c...

The Article I linked about the Bundeswehr was about a students satire against the military.

And in the 60 Minute interview the prosecutors literally admit that they use illegal searches of your home as a punishment.

Re: The Censorship Network: Regulation and Repression in Germany Today

#17
post #2

Weird to read something from an unknown (to me) organization which claims censorship in Germany when I as a German can't recall any instances in the last thirty years which I would consider censored in Germany. Like I mean yes Doom was censored as a game due to gore/violence. But what else? Have to check the report. But the thing is: Censorship is not the issue in Germany. Disinformation is. We get too much bullshit…

> Trusted Flaggers > 1 Pimmel Affäre > Schwachkopf Affäre Oder zuletzt > https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/baden-wuerttemberg/suedbaden/a... and last but not least: > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bMzFDpfDwc Germany is very much implementing censorship by chilling effect.

Schwachkopf-Affäre is a good example of how the right wings try to put in your head censorship and making you happy about having even more censorship in the future. There is a ton of fake stuff/news about it and it is used to block media even more.

Re: The Censorship Network: Regulation and Repression in Germany Today

#18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Trusted Flaggers > 1 Pimmel Affäre > Schwachkopf Affäre Oder zuletzt > https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/baden-wuerttemberg/suedbaden/a... and last but not least: > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bMzFDpfDwc Germany is very much implementing censorship by chilling effect.

Suggesting someone is part of the SS as an insult is something where courts should decide the judgment. Which in fact they did. I feel some people really want to make Germany more current-usa-free-speach

That picture did not suggest someone is part of the SS but that someone in the Bundeswher might have contacts to SS People. To argue that this should even go in front of a judge is insanity.

Every carnival float in Düsseldorf every year would have to be evaluated by a judge than. Just a RANDOM example: https://www1.wdr.de/nachrichten/motivwaegen-von-jacques-till...

Freedom of speech includes satire. To ignore that is the exact chilling effect I mentioned.

Re: The Censorship Network: Regulation and Repression in Germany Today

#19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Suggesting someone is part of the SS as an insult is something where courts should decide the judgment. Which in fact they did. I feel some people really want to make Germany more current-usa-free-speach

That picture did not suggest someone is part of the SS but that someone in the Bundeswher might have contacts to SS People. To argue that this should even go in front of a judge is insanity. Every carnival float in Düsseldorf every year would have to be evaluated by a judge than. Just a RANDOM example: https://www1.wdr.de/nachrichten/motivwaegen-von-jacques-till... Freedom of speech includes satire. To ignore that is…

If it's obvious then the judge says that. did the student got punished? What is the chilling effect if the defendant gets right?

Re: The Censorship Network: Regulation and Repression in Germany Today

#20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That picture did not suggest someone is part of the SS but that someone in the Bundeswher might have contacts to SS People. To argue that this should even go in front of a judge is insanity. Every carnival float in Düsseldorf every year would have to be evaluated by a judge than. Just a RANDOM example: https://www1.wdr.de/nachrichten/motivwaegen-von-jacques-till... Freedom of speech includes satire. To ignore that is…

If it's obvious then the judge says that. did the student got punished? What is the chilling effect if the defendant gets right?

The violation of rights already began with the investigation for what anyone in good faith would consider satire. Even being investigated for this means having to defend oneself, perhaps hire an attorney, in case of this defendant having to have a gofundme equivalent to pay for it. Would you like to go to court for every post you do online? I cannot fathom how you cannot see that this is obviously designed to intimidate students criticizing the Bundeswehr or being violated by a medical examination as a draft preperation.

Young people have to shut up and take it and if they don't, hope your pocketmoney covers attorneys fees!

Just read the context of what happened here, it's easy to find. They did shit like using their mass suriveillance tech to find the phone this OBVIOUS SATIRE was posted from[0]

[0]https://perspektive-online.net/2025/10/anzeige-wegen-meme-es...

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