Criminality - The minister looks concerned at increasing hate crime
Lower Saxony's Justice Minister Kathrin Wahlmann expresses concern over increasing Hate Crimes. "Hate crimes are on the rise and that's a real problem – both within and outside the Internet", the SPD politician told the German Press Agency (dpa) in Hannover.
For example, insults in online forums have significantly increased during the Corona Pandemic, said the Minister. "We also observe this worrying trend in stalking, defamation, or threats." Many people consequently withdraw from forums or networks. "Excesses of hate and harassment will become even more apparent. It's poison for democracy."
Crimes on the Internet must be pursued just as consistently as those outside the Internet, emphasized Wahlmann. "The Internet is not a lawless realm and it should never be. That's why we're intensely investigating hate and incitement on the Internet through our focus prosecutor's office in Göttingen." The case numbers there have recently risen significantly, leading to an increase in personnel.
Since July 1, 2020, there has been a central office in Lower Saxony for combating hate crimes on the Internet. This office is located at the prosecutor's office in Göttingen. In recent years, investigative procedures have been traced back to a reporting portal in particular.
According to a study presented in the spring by the State Criminal Police Office (LKA), almost every second person surveyed had been a victim of hate crimes at least once. For the non-representative study, 50,000 people in Hannover were randomly contacted, 7,411 usable responses were received. In addition, some particularly affected groups were specifically addressed, including Jewish people, Sinti and Roma, queer people, and public officials.
Kathrin Wahlmann, being the Justice Minister of Lower Saxony, expressed her concerns about the rising incidences of Hate Crimes, highlighting their significance both online and offline. During the Coronavirus pandemic, offensive remarks in online forums have seen a significant increase, which Wahlmann finds worrying, as it extends to stalking, defamation, and threats, causing many individuals to withdraw from digital platforms.
Wahlmann strongly believed that crimes on the Internet should be pursued equally vigorously as those committed offline, and she advocated for the view that the Internet is not a lawless realm. In line with this, she mentioned the focus on investigating hate and incitement on the Internet through a specialized prosecutor's office established in Göttingen. This office has seen a significant increase in case numbers and corresponding personnel.
Since the establishment of a central office for combating hate crimes on the Internet in Lower Saxony on July 1, 2020, the office has been operating from the prosecutor's office in Göttingen. The study conducted by the State Criminal Police Office (LKA) in Hannover, which surveyed almost every second person, revealed that virtually everyone had been a victim of hate crimes at least once. The non-representative survey involved 7,411 usable responses, with various affected groups like Jewish people, Sinti and Roma, queer people, and public officials also being considered.
