Politics - State parliament concerned about more hate crime on the internet
Saxony's state parliament has expressed concern about an increase in hate speech on the internet. On Thursday, parliament passed a motion by the coalition parties to effectively counter hate crime. "The fight against hate on the internet is a permanent task that we take seriously and for which we are increasingly better equipped. We want to increase our presence online in order to uncover potential perpetrators and networks and initiate investigations," explained Interior Minister Armin Schuster (CDU).
According toSchuster, it is not only a matter of ensuring that criminal content disappears from the internet, but also that its authors are identified and held accountable with the utmost consistency. "This makes it all the more important that people report and denounce the relevant facts. (...) Efficient criminal prosecution is needed to turn reports into investigations and convictions." This is exactly what the Central Reporting Office for Hate Crime on the Internet (ZMI) at the Saxony State Criminal Police Office is for.
"The ZMI has been well received, which is pleasing on the one hand, but also shows on the other: Unfortunately, the problem is huge," emphasized the minister. Last year, 800 reports were registered, this year there are already well over 1000 reports. "Behind every one of these reports is a person who is insulted, ridiculed and, in the worst case, threatened or discriminated against." Time and again, this hatred affects office holders and elected officials at all political levels and from all political backgrounds.
In his closing speech, SPD internal affairs politician Albrecht Pallas admitted that the fight against the "poison on the internet" was only just beginning. "Hate crime on the internet is a rapidly growing threat to our liberal democracy. Hate and hate speech online are increasingly leading to people withdrawing from the discourse or no longer standing for political office," explained Green Party internal affairs politician Valentin Lippmann.
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The CDU, being part of the coalition in Saxony's state parliament, supports Armin Schuster in his efforts to counteract the rise in online hate crimes. Schuster, the Interior Minister of Saxony, emphasized that the ZMI, established to handle hate crime reports, has received over 1000 reports this year, indicating a significant issue in Saxony. Regardless of political affiliation, office holders and elected officials across Saxony have been targets of hate crimes reported to the ZMI.
Source: www.stern.de
