American broadcaster CBS chased the German police as they raided homes for speech crimes, such as posting “racist cartoons” on the Internet, which prosecutors in the country allegedly as an essential security to protect democracy Defeated.
A few days after American Vice President JD Vance, Germany and other European states failed to live up to the Western ideals of independence, especially on the issue of free speech, CBS 60 minutes The news magazine broadcast police raids on social media posts and broadcast interviews with prosecutors, who defend the Dracian exercise.
“It is 6:01 on Tuesday morning, and we were with the state police as they raided the apartment in North West Germany. Searched a suspect’s house inside six armed officers, then seized his laptop and cellphone. Prosecutors say those electronics can be used to commit crime, crime; Posting a racist cartoon online, ” 60 minutes Disappointment of despair.
Unlike the United States, where the first amendment prevents citizens from being arrested on the so -called “indecent language”, it is a very different story in Germany.
Local prosecutors told The American Broadcaster that currently 16 dedicated police work forces are monitoring “abusive language” on the German web, there are about 3,500 cases per year. Prosecutor Frank-Machal Lae told the news program that his unit has successfully acquired 750 speech crimes in the last four years alone.
Fellow prosecutor Dr. Mathous Fink said that online speech, many of the people arrested for crimes believed that their positions were given a free speech, “and we say, ‘No, you also have free speech, but its There is also a border. “
Prosecutors explained that people in Germany could be jailed for public insults – in which against politicians – spreading malicious gossip, violent threats, inventing fake quotes, or even “lies” again Also prepare from. He claimed that in most examples, criminals are fined and sometimes their equipment is seized.
“Like comments” you are the son of AB, “to forgive me to use, but these words have nothing to do with the political discussion or contribution to the discussion,” Fink said.
He said that his work forces have access to special software to target anonymous users who violate speech laws, while investigators are given access to government data to hunt criminals.
Program on Germany’s censorful police mechanisms came a few days after Vice President JD Vance stimulated European states to maintain freedom of speech and fail to compare strategy for the Soviet Union.
“The threat I worry the most is the most about Europe, it is not Russia, it is not China, it is no other external actor. I worry that there is a danger from within. Vance said at the Munich Suraksha Sammelan last week that some of its most fundamental values Retreat of Europe: the values shared with the United States.
Vance criticized the political establishment in Berlin for its “firewall” around the anti-people migration option for the German (AFD) party, which currently stands as the second strongest in the elections before the next week’s federal elections before the next week’s federal elections. . In addition to refusing to work with the party, politicians across Germany have also called for a lump sum on alleged extremism.
Vance’s speech expressed displeasure among the German politicians, leftist Chancellor Olaf Sholaz that Berlin “would not accept outsiders who intervene in our democracy.”
Far and left Green Party Foreign Minister Analena Berbock Rescuing What she called a “flexible democracy”, in which the government faces external enemies for democracy, such as Russia, but also against the “inside enemies”, such as Islamists and “radical extreme rights”.
Even the top CBS anchor Margaret Brainon appeared in favor with the current German censorship model, suggesting that Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime had freedom of speech to operate Holocost during World War II. .
However, there was a defender in Germany in Vance’s call to protect civil liberties. In the record paper of the nation, WorldThe columnist Andreas Rosenfelder commented that warning to encroach powerism is “facing so little curiosity among German opinion leaders and facing such deaf ears.”
“They will do well in their best interest to identify [Vance’s] He said that instead of turning it into an enemy attack, a speech as an hour of truth, ”he said.
in response to 60 minutes The program, Vice President Vance commented on Monday: “It is not a crime to insult anyone, and criminalization of speech is a real tension on European-American relationships. It is an organ, and everyone in Europe and America should reject this fickleness. ,
