Internet
Family Minister Paus for more prevention of hate online
Federal Minister for Family Affairs Lisa Paus sees a need for more prevention against hate speech on the Internet. photo
© Michael Kappeler/dpa
It is particularly present on social media: hate speech can now be reported, but for Lisa Paus the current regulations do not go far enough.
Federal Minister for Family Affairs Lisa Paus believes that better prevention of hate online is necessary. In the ARD “Morgenmagazin” the Green politician also called for better enforcement of rules by the authorities and help for those affected.
Although you can now report hate posts to the respective services, you have the impression: “It’s just a huge tidal wave that comes over you, and with every post you report, ten or 20 or 100 or 1,000 more are added “, Paus explained. “That’s why I also felt very powerless at times.”
Against this background, the Federal Minister for Family Affairs says she is happy “that there is now the Digital Services Act, which is now in force throughout Europe”. This law on digital services is intended, among other things, to ensure that illegal content such as hate speech is removed from the Internet more quickly after appropriate notices. Paus explained that Germany is also working on further national legislation: “On the one hand, we actually have to take another look at regulation and see what we can do better.”
With regard to enforcement, the authorities “must now be in a position to actually work there,” Paus continued. In addition, concrete help for affected people is important so that they can enforce their rights.
Together with the “Competence Network Against Hate on the Internet”, Paus is presenting the results of a study on hate in social media in Berlin. It was already said in advance: threats of violence, discrimination, blatant racism and anti-Semitism were the order of the day.