German police raids citizens for 'hate and agitation'
The Federal Criminal Police Office is conducting 170 raids across
Germany targeting "hate and incitement" on the Internet. These
operations began early Tuesday, focusing on individuals accused of
insulting politicians and promoting hatred online.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, 14 raids are part of this nationwide
effort. Interior Minister Herbert Reul stated, "Digital arsonists must
not be able to hide behind their cell phones or computers." Authorities
noted a significant rise in hate postings, with 10,732 recorded in 2024,
up 34% from the previous year.
The government crackdown is part of an ongoing initiative against
online "hate speech," with more reports being generated by the Central
Reporting Office for Criminal Content on the Internet.
