hate on the web
Ruth Moschner: Insults and harassment often have no consequences online
The moderator Ruth Moschner
© Rolf Vennenbernd / Picture Alliance
Not enough effort in law enforcement, little willingness to cooperate on social networks: moderator Ruth Moschner reports how sobering the reactions to her ads about vile messages on social media were.
TV presenter Ruth Moschner, 45, has appealed to the federal government to fight cybercrime more sharply. “Anyone who doesn’t have to face any consequences for a crime online becomes blunted,” wrote Moschner (“The Masked Singer”) in an open letter to the interior and justice ministries published on Tuesday. She cited her own experience of receiving repeated, unsolicited direct sexual messages from multiple users on her professional Instagram account.
Moschner cited the vulgar and insulting formulations. She reported the news – but the investigation was quickly discontinued because a perpetrator “could not be identified”. According to Moschner’s letter, the Instagram network did not release the data. She emphasized that it is important that a corresponding amendment to the Network Enforcement Act comes into force in February as planned. “I consider it imperative that this standard come into force, as I unfortunately had to experience for myself that the current criminal prosecution of cybercrime is a sign of poverty in this country.”
Ruth Moschner is sobered after unsuccessful reports
The public prosecutor’s office in Berlin contradicted Moschner’s accusation that the authority had made no effort. “That’s wrong,” said spokesman Martin Steltner. According to Steltner, the reactions of Facebook (to which Instagram belongs) depend on the seriousness of the offence. In the case of insults, the chances of success are actually zero.
The Network Enforcement Act applies to all operators of social networks. Among other things, the reporting channels for complaints will be simplified in the future. Companies should be obliged to provide all the necessary data, including computer addresses, to identify suspected criminals. In the future, it will no longer be enough for social networks to simply delete criminal content. With the reform of the Network Enforcement Act, they must be reported to the Federal Criminal Police Office.