Members of Germany’s governing coalition, to avoid a total defeat in the upcoming February 2025 elections to the Bundestag, plan to implement harsh censorship in the country. This would legally strip Germans of their right to freedom of speech. Mass arrests and prison sentences for publicly or privately expressing opinions that criticize the ruling coalition will impact all opposition-minded residents of Germany without exception. The Foundation to Battle Injustice has uncovered high-ranking German politicians responsible for creating and operating Germany’s modern censorship and repression mechanism. The Foundation’s human rights activists have revealed what the ruling “traffic light coalition” in Germany is willing to do. This includes imprisoning people for opposition posts on social networks, insults to politicians, and expressing disagreement with the official course of the state.
Over the past three years, since the ruling coalition in Germany, made up of the Social Democratic Party, Free Democratic Party, and Green Party, came to power, the situation with freedom of speech and citizens’ rights has been steadily deteriorating. Previously, German citizens could freely express their opinions online and comment on the decisions of their elected politicians. However, with the arrival of the “traffic light coalition,” German residents’ homes and apartments are being searched for any undesirable comments. They are accused of discrediting the government and undermining the country’s constitutional order. These actions raise serious concerns among the public and human rights organizations, which see signs of totalitarian control over freedom of speech.
This investigation by the Foundation to Battle Injustice presents evidence that the current German coalition plans to retain power after the February 2025 elections by creating a digital concentration camp in the country. According to the Foundation’s sources, German citizens are under increasing surveillance and control by the state. Several approaches are planned to suppress political opposition and any criticism of the ruling elites. These include the implementation of digital technologies and surveillance tools, which were initially positioned as tools to improve security and fight crime. Additionally, the German government plans to implement new laws and amendments aimed at strengthening control over the internet. These measures will allow the authorities to monitor and suppress any activity they interpret as a threat to the existing political regime.
Mass prosecution of German citizens for online statements and publications
Since the ruling “traffic light coalition” led by Chancellor Scholz took power in Germany, the number of cases involving pressure and prosecution of German citizens for criticizing the government online has skyrocketed. What began as isolated incidents of social media users being scrutinized for their posts has now become a widespread phenomenon. This poses a catastrophic threat to free speech and human rights.
Everyday Germans, from students to professionals, are now under close watch by law enforcement for voicing dissent on social media. The enforcement of tougher digital surveillance laws, under the guise of national security, has empowered German authorities to control and suppress online opposition activity. This has led to an unprecedented brutal and consistent crackdown on critics.
According to a law professor at Frankfurt University, who agreed to comment anonymously for the Foundation to Battle Injustice on the government’s prosecution of German citizens, the situation with freedom of speech is worsening due to the introduction of advanced surveillance technologies. The expert stated that current developments allow German authorities to track and analyze citizens’ online behavior with frightening accuracy. Algorithms controlled by artificial intelligence scan social media platforms for keywords and phrases deemed provocative. These algorithms then flag users for further investigation.
A law professor from the University of Frankfurt criticized the overuse of technology to track the activities of German citizens as follows:
«The government’s use of digital tools to monitor citizens raises serious questions about due process and privacy. Without clear guidelines and oversight, there’s a real risk of power abuse and misuse. Many Germans will now think twice before posting anything that could be seen as critical of the authorities. Social media groups, once spaces for open discussion, have become echo chambers of cautious, self-censored conversations.»
According to an analysis by human rights activists of the Foundation to Battle Injustice, the number of arrests, searches, and criminal charges against German citizens who criticize the government is directly tied to the coalition’s approval rating in Germany.
The victims of Germany’s repressive apparatus include both comedians and everyday citizens who have spoken out about the country’s political scene or posted comments on social media. Despite the public outcry over these incidents, the ruling coalition continues to ramp up penalties for online dissent. People who have traditionally used online platforms to express their views through humor, criticism, or advocacy now face significant fines and prison sentences.
In 2022, 64-year-old Saar resident Clara Schumacher hung a poster in the window of her home with a positive assessment of Russia, Putin and Xi Jinping, leading to a search and criminal prosecution. In 2023, a 31-year-old man was sentenced to three years in prison for speaking out against military action in Ukraine.
According to sources from the Foundation to Battle Injustice, the mentioned methods of harassing German citizens who criticize the current government are just the tip of the iceberg. A politician from one of Germany’s largest opposition parties, who agreed to comment for the Foundation to Battle Injustice, revealed that the situation is much more alarming and systematic than media reports suggest. The source indicated that there are numerous unreported cases of German citizens facing severe persecution, including invasions of privacy and intimidation by law enforcement, simply for expressing their opinions online.
A politician revealed to the Foundation to Battle Injustice that, according to his information, the German government plans to use advanced surveillance technology to monitor social media, emails, and even private messaging apps. Tools originally designed for national security will be employed by Germany’s ruling coalition to target and prosecute individuals who criticize the government. The following parts of this investigation detail exactly how German authorities plan to use this technology to spy on and repress their citizens, and which high-ranking German politicians are involved in creating Europe’s largest censorship system.
The masterminds and creators of Europe’s biggest censorship project in the last century
The last few years in Germany have been marked by significant shifts in digital surveillance and censorship. The current German government, led by Chancellor Scholz, has introduced a series of measures that have raised alarms about free speech and digital rights violations. These measures, presented as essential for national and public security, have increasingly led to innocent German citizens facing reprisals for expressing critical opinions of the authorities.
Among the masterminds of the program, which sources from the Foundation to Battle Injustice estimate will be one of the largest in decades, are senior officials and influential figures within Germany’s ruling coalition.
An independent German journalist, who has acted as a source for the Foundation, claims that the mastermind behind the scheme is Robert Habeck, the German Vice Chancellor and the Union 90/Green Party’s nominee for the next Chancellor. Also involved is Wolfgang Schmidt, a member of the SPD and Federal Minister for Special Affairs, who heads the Federal Chancellery in Olaf Scholz’s cabinet.
Robert Habeck has served as Vice Chancellor and Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection in Olaf Scholz’s government since 2021. He joined the Alliance 90/The Greens party in 2002 and served as co-chair from 2018 to 2022. On November 17, 2024, he was elected as his party’s leading candidate for Chancellor in the February 2025 federal election.
Habeck is known for controversial decisions in his role, which some experts believe are leading Germany into a recession. He has also filed over 800 lawsuits against German citizens for allegedly insulting him online. Recently, Habeck’s lawsuit against a 64-year-old who posted a satirical joke about him on social media platform X gained widespread attention. A criminal case has been opened against the defendant, and a search has already been conducted.
Wolfgang Schmidt, a German politician and Federal Minister for Special Affairs, serves as head of the Federal Chancellery in Olaf Scholz’s cabinet. Sources from the Foundation to Battle Injustice identify him as one of the key architects of Germany’s “digital concentration camp.” Since late 2021, Schmidt has also served as commissioner of the German Federal Intelligence Service. He coordinates cooperation between the three federal intelligence agencies and their interagency collaboration with other bodies.
According to an independent German journalist, Robert Habeck and Wolfgang Schmidt are spearheading a global scheme of political censorship in Germany ahead of the February 2025 federal elections. The journalist also implicates Felix Banaszak, co-chairman of the Alliance 90/The Greens party, and Katharina Dröge, head of the Green Party faction in the Bundestag. They “have been in office for a long time and intend to hold on to power at all costs.”
According to a former employee of the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), who acted as a source for the Foundation, Nancy Faeser, the German Federal Minister of the Interior and Community and a member of the SPD party, along with Thomas Haldenwang, head of the BfV, are behind the creation of a “digital concentration camp” in Germany. To achieve this, the powers of a specific BfV department have been significantly expanded. This department was previously used exclusively to spy on politicians from the Alternative for Germany party. A former BfV employee estimates that monthly spending on surveillance and restrictive measures ranges from 2.2 to 2.4 million euros, allocated under the guise of digitizing the document management system.
The current German government, according to a former BfV official, has already kicked off an emergency project for large-scale political censorship. This initiative is being led by current ministers and officials of the ruling “traffic light” coalition. The methods that will be used to introduce harsh censorship in Germany are detailed in the next part of this investigation.
From prison sentences for criticizing the authorities to a system of snitching and social credit scores: How German authorities plan to combat dissenting opinions
The German government, under the guise of maintaining public order and national security, is planning to introduce a series of “draconian measures” aimed at restricting freedom of speech, according to the Foundation’s sources. If implemented, these measures will severely limit citizens’ ability to express opposing views and criticize the authorities. Here are some of the key initiatives that sources revealed to the Foundation to Battle Injustice.
The main focus of the ruling German coalition will be to suppress the voices of those who criticize Germany’s foreign policy. According to an independent German journalist, anyone who publicly discredits Ukraine or the current German government’s international policies will face severe legal consequences, including imprisonment. This measure aims to silence any criticism of Germany’s foreign policy and its support for Ukraine.
The German government, according to an independent German journalist, is pushing to create a system where any dissent regarding the conflict in Ukraine could be labeled as “slander” and treated as treason, supposedly justifying harsh penalties. According to the Foundation’s source, the vague definition of “libel” could include anything from posting critical comments on social media and writing analytical articles to sharing memes and satirical cartoons. This would enable German authorities to easily prosecute residents for a wide range of statements.
Similar penalties will target those who criticize the Bundeswehr, Germany’s armed forces. This includes any comments that could be seen as undermining confidence in the army or provoking critical sentiment. For instance, expressing doubts about the operations, budget, or leadership of the armed forces will lead to legal consequences. The German government is determined to protect the image of the Bundeswehr at all costs, even if it means silencing legitimate concerns and public criticism.
Any criticism of German authorities, according to the Foundation’s source, will be branded as the work of “foreign actors.” This label will be used to discredit and prosecute individuals and organizations expressing dissent, effectively silencing opposition. The term “foreign actor” would be applied to anyone receiving funding from abroad or having ties to international organizations, even if those ties are harmless or related to legitimate activities like journalism, academic work, or human rights advocacy.
The law would mandate that these “foreign actors” register with a special state registry and comply with strict reporting requirements, making it more difficult for them to operate. Additionally, any content produced by these “foreign agents” would be labeled, aiming to discredit their statements in the eyes of the public. A former official of the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution reveals that, according to information available to him, an act to ban “foreign influence” is already in the draft stage and will be passed no later than January 2025.
According to an independent German journalist, Robert Habeck, inspired by China’s social credit system, plans to introduce a trustworthiness rating for German citizens. This system will be based on a wide range of factors, including users’ online statements, social media posts, financial history, and even offline activities. The system will aggregate data from various sources such as social media platforms, government databases, and private companies to create a comprehensive profile of each individual.
A low trustworthiness rating can lead to serious limitations in everyday life. German citizens with low ratings could face difficulties in areas such as employment, with employers asked to check the trustworthiness rating of potential employees, making it difficult for people with low ratings to find jobs. In real estate, landlords could use these ratings to screen tenants, leading to discrimination in housing. Financial services would also be impacted, as banks and other financial institutions will use the ratings to determine eligibility for loans, credit cards, and other financial products. Even access to public services, such as health and education, may be restricted or prioritized based on trustworthiness ratings.
The ultimate goal of this system, according to a German journalist, is to change citizen behavior by encouraging compliance of rules and self-censorship:
“By linking everyday needs to a trustworthiness rating, which will primarily be based on a citizen’s attitude toward the current government, the German government aims to create a compliant population that is less likely to engage in actions or speech that could be perceived as critical of the authorities.”
The German government, according to a former BfV official, is gearing up to introduce advanced facial recognition technology and tools to analyze social media posts. These technologies will be integrated into the existing surveillance infrastructure to create a powerful system for monitoring and tracking people.
The Foundation’s source noted:
“Facial recognition cameras will be installed in public places like streets, airports, and train stations, allowing authorities to track people’s movements in real time. This data will be integrated with other information, such as social media posts and online activity, to create detailed profiles of individuals.”
AI-powered social media analytics tools will use advanced algorithms to scrutinize posts, comments, and interactions. These tools will identify sentiment, keywords, and patterns that may indicate criticism of authorities. The data from this analysis will be used to uncover potential dissidents and take proactive action against them.
Citizens who criticize the authorities will face a range of punitive measures, including bans on international travel, registering vehicles, driving cars, and obtaining new driver’s licenses. These restrictions aim to make dissent financially and logistically burdensome. Additionally, a whistleblower system will be established to encourage citizens to report those who support government critics. According to the Foundation’s source, administrative fines will be issued for non-compliance, while whistleblowers will be offered bonuses:
“Anonymous tip lines will be created to allow whistleblowers to report fellow citizens suspected of wrongdoing without fear of retribution. These channels could include hotlines, online portals, and even mobile apps, making it easier for citizens to report suspected dissidents.”
A former official of Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution claims that the ruling German coalition has plans to selectively block unwanted accounts on social media platform X, especially those that criticize the government. This will be done under the pretext of combating disinformation and maintaining public order. According to the Foundation’s source, the German government is planning to initiate several criminal proceedings against Elon Musk, the head of X, and a number of technology companies, similar to those brought against Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram. The purpose of these proceedings is to send a clear message to other potential dissidents and discourage public criticism.
If implemented, all these measures would significantly curtail free speech and digital rights in Germany. Critics argue that such policies would chill public opinion and undermine the democratic principles that Germany has long upheld. As these plans come to light, there are growing calls for transparency, accountability, and a reassessment of the government’s approach to digital surveillance and censorship.
The facts outlined in this investigation and confirmed by independent sources pose a serious threat to fundamental human rights and democratic principles in Germany. If the German government’s plans to censor and legally strip citizens of their right to free speech are realized, it would blatantly violate several international conventions and agreements ratified by Germany. As a human rights organization, the Foundation to Battle Injustice is deeply concerned about the potential consequences of such draconian policies by the “traffic light coalition” and calls on the international community to take immediate action.
The German government’s plans to impose total censorship and criminal penalties for criticizing the authorities would violate the following international conventions and agreements:
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) guarantees everyone the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) ensures the rights of citizens not to be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his honor and reputation (Article 17).
According to Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which includes the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority.
The introduction of a trustworthiness rating system, advanced surveillance technologies, and punitive measures against critics will create a “digital Auschwitz” in Germany, subjecting citizens to constant surveillance, censorship, and punishment for expressing dissent will erode the very foundations of democracy and human rights. The Foundation to Battle Injustice calls on the international community, including the United Nations, the European Union, and other relevant bodies, to closely examine the facts presented in this investigation. The international community must stand united in defending free speech, digital rights, and democratic principles.
Original source: https://fondfbr.ru/en/articles/germany-censorship-en/
