fact finder
Status: 04/12/2023 12:58 p.m
Although Attila Hildmann has been blocked on Telegram, he continues to spread anti-Semitism and calls for violence through numerous channels. Telegram’s measures are “arbitrary and unsystematic,” according to experts.
Attila Hildmann continues to spread anti-Semitic hate speech, calls for violence or false information about the corona vaccination in Germany via Telegram. Although his Telegram channels and groups were blocked in February 2022 due to violations of local laws and can no longer be accessed by users with a German phone number, Hildmann’s content continues to have up to five-digit views.
This is possible because Hildmann operates numerous second and third channels both under real names and under pseudonyms. Almost 45,000 subscribers follow his alternative channel with the widest reach. Many of the channels are strongly reminiscent of Hildmann’s name, only the vowels are missing, for example. But the direct connection is not always immediately obvious. There are channels whose titles refer to events such as the flood disaster in the Ahr Valley or which position themselves clearly against the Covid 19 vaccinations.
However, Hildmann makes no effort to disguise his authorship, says Josef Holnburger, Managing Director of the Center for Monitoring, Analysis and Strategy (CeMAS). “It’s pretty obvious which channels are Hildmann’s. He posts his content to all channels at the same time and often posts selfie videos or voice messages where he’s clearly recognizable.”
Numerous alternative channels have not been blocked to this day
An evaluation of Hildmann’s channels, which dem ARD fact finder is available, proves that Hildmann operates at least 25 channels. Only six channels have been blocked, including his main channel. “Since the blocking at the beginning of 2022, Hildmann has been able to create numerous other appearances that have not been blocked to this day, even after notification,” says Holnburger.
Although he no longer reaches the mass that he used to reach, the political scientist explains that the numbers are still in the range that makes it attractive for him to create and use replacement channels. “On Telegram you reach the audience that you want to reach when you spread conspiracy ideologies and right-wing extremism. Even actors like Attila Hildmann, who are affected by blocking, basically have no choice in German-speaking countries but to stay on the platform.” His strategy for generating reach despite the lack of a large channel: “He shares all the messages from his private, non-public channels via these large public channels,” explains Holnburger. He does that because Telegram only takes care of public channels, not private communication. “Of course, that’s something that you can very easily trick this regulation.”
In order not to lose the majority of his followers in the event of possible blockages, Hildmann is constantly promoting additional replacement channels. So he writes: “Comrades, the tuber will also censor this channel, so follow the next one! Thank you and always stand firm, these parasites won’t get us down.”
Telegram acts “arbitrarily and unsystematically”
The current CeMAS report “Chronology of a radicalization – How Telegram became the most important platform for conspiracy ideologies and right-wing extremism” shows that the blocks and restrictions of channels and groups by Telegram are “arbitrary and unsystematic”. According to experts, Telegram should actually be able to use methods to identify channels and groups on which, for example there are calls for violence and group-related enmity. This also applies to the creation of replacement channels, says Holnburger. “Your systems have to recognize when second and third channels are created after blocking. But they don’t seem to be using it.”
The authors of the study “Supporting Pillar Telegram – How right-wing extremists and conspiracy ideologues are expanding their infrastructure on Telegram” from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue Germany (ISD) share the assessment. According to Lea Gerster, Dominik Hammer and Christian Schwieter, Telegram only “half-heartedly and unsystematically” takes action against channels that spread calls for violence or Russian propaganda. Consistent blocking is more relevant Accounts are immensely important to “counteract the spread and normalization of extremist attitudes”.
“Telegram’s decision-making process as to when which accounts or channels will be blocked seems arbitrary,” they wrote at the request of the ARD fact finder. The criteria by which account bans are imposed should always be transparent and verifiable, which is not the case with Telegram.
Blocking is only done under pressure
However, Telegram is now moving. The company initially claimed that it would not respond to government inquiries, but it is now working with governments and authorities. According to the CeMAS report, numerous channels and groups were blocked in connection with a conversation with the Federal Ministry of the Interior in January 2022. During this period, there were a total of 57 blocks – more within one month than ever before and afterwards.
Overall, Telegram blocked 207 of the conspiracy ideological and right-wing extremist public channels and groups observed by CeMAS in German-speaking countries. According to experts, however, this only happens if the pressure from outside is great enough and the attention to the hatred that can be found on the platform carries the risk that the Telegram app will be removed from the Google and Apple app stores could be removed. During the pandemic, the pressure on the platform increased so much that the company reacted.
“Digital researchers and citizen groups studying Telegram believe that the company only reacts when it is really necessary,” writes journalist Darren Loucaides. In its terms of use, Telegram undertakes to remove illegal pornography and calls for violence. Telegram does not show a particularly great commitment to enforcing its own rules, says Holnburger. “It’s more like green or whitewashing. They don’t do it sustainably, they don’t take it seriously enough.”
Due diligence for operators of social networks
Platforms like Telegram are obliged to prevent problematic content and developments on the platform. This includes, for example, spam, copyright infringement or dangerous calls for violence. In Germany, the Network Enforcement Act (NetzDG) regulates the obligation to report and delete criminal content. This should also apply across Europe in a standardized way via the law on digital services (Digital Service Act). For very large online platforms, there are even additional due diligence requirements.
Again and again allegations were made against Telegram of not living up to this responsibility and violating the obligations. In October 2022, the Federal Office of Justice imposed two fines totaling 5.125 million euros on Telegram. Reason: “Violations of the obligation to provide legally compliant reporting channels and the obligation to designate a domestic authorized recipient according to the Network Enforcement Act (NetzDG) in the years 2021 and 2022.”
Missing resources at Telegram?
One can only guess why Telegram does not take care of the enforcement of its rules and obligations in a uniform, transparent and sustainable manner. On ARD fact finderThe company does not comment on the request. Loucaides concludes that the platform “needs to strike a delicate balance because of its role in different countries”. Another reason could be the lack of resources. Holnburger sees it that way for the German-speaking area: “I can only assume that it’s also because they probably don’t have a German team of experts. We just don’t know how the content moderation is structured.”
According to Telegram, the company currently has around 60 employees. It is unclear how many employees are assigned to moderating content. In April 2021, Telegram advertised content moderation positions. They can still be found on the site unchanged to this day – including the application deadline. Apparently, no or too few content moderators were hired. Fatal, as the ISD team thinks. “Telegram’s cautious moderation behavior makes it easier to spread extremist content on the platform than, for example, on Meta.” Even if Telegram now acts more actively against calls for violence than two years ago, the platform is still a “breeding ground for hatred and hate speech”.
Telegram must meet its legal obligations and consistently block content that is illegal under German law. “If these are posted on a second or third channel, they have to be removed there too. It doesn’t matter who is behind which account – legally the content is decisive,” say Gerster, Hammer and Schwieter from the ISD. In the future, the enforcement of the new European digital legislation must start here in order to demand systematic, transparent action from Telegram against illegal content on the platform.