NetzDG – well, that didn’t quite work out, did it?!

Good intentions and their real life effects – that’s sometimes a whole other story.

In Germany NetzDG, a new law, passed the legislative process with best intentions: against cyber bullying, against hate speech, against fake news. Website owners and companies such as Twitter and Facebook are to be held responsible for what is published under their watch. At least, that was the idea.

Only three weeks into its existence the law, however, has had several severe impacts on free speech. Afraid of being punished social media platforms started to delete numerous postings and content..

More: https://netzpolitik.org/2018/csunet-netzdg-verstoesst-gegen-die-verfassung/

The Twitter-Controversy: Titanic and Beatrix von Storch

Freedom of speechIt’s abut freedom of speech, so the stakes are rather high.

It may sound a little overwhelming, but the tide is high in the controversy about the newest data (security) and privacy laws in Germany and Twitter. Because of the new legislation, mainly done by Heiko Maas (social democrats), that was supposed to stop digital harrasment and racism, kicked fully in: but not in the way it seemed designed for. The satirical magazine “Titanic” got shut down on Twitter (by Twitter) for its parody on altright politician Beatrix von Storch.

Read more here: http://www.titanic-magazin.de/news/twitter-sperrt-titanic-wegen-beatrix-von-storch-parodie-9376/