Hate on the Internet

The Internet has been used for many years by hate mongers all over to spread their inhuman ideas. In fact, today the Internet has become their most significant propaganda instrument: they abuse popular services like social networks and video platforms to lure kids and to recruit them for their organizations and activities. And the connection between hate speech and hate action is obvious – in the past years there have been lots of cases in which hate speech on the Net has led to racist motivated violence and crimes in real life.

News: NPD – The German right-wing party on the Internet

In recent years, the NPD has used the Internet as a tool to approach young persons specifically offering them right-wing extremist content. jugendschutz.net has just completed a research of NPD activities on the Internet; A summary of the results and further information can be found here:
NPD – The German right-wing party on the Internet (PDF)

Publication: "Click - Don't get trapped by Nazis!"

In May 2009 jugendschutz.net published a brochure specially designed for minors aged 12 to 15.
English information can be found in this summary of the booklet:
"Click - Don't get trapped by Nazis!" (PDF)

The work of jugendschutz.net against cyber hate

Since 2000 a special team of jugendschutz.net is working on the issue of right-wing extremism on the Internet. They regularly monitor hate websites and web2.0 platforms which are attractive to youngsters and take effective measures against illegal and harmful content. Even though hate propaganda is very often hosted abroad, jugendschutz.net achieves a shut-down of 80% of its cases. For more information see jugendschutz.net Report Cyber Hate 2008.

Media Education is an important approach to combat hate. jugendschutz.net has been developing concepts for in and out-of-school education and published CDs, books and brochures with concrete examples and best practices to promote tolerance and non-discrimination. Last year jugendschutz.net released a book that documents the results of the fifth annual INACH conference that made media educational approaches against cyber hate subject of discussions. For more information see documentation.

International co-operation against cyber hate is essential, not only because the Internet is an international medium but also because hate speech and the incitement to hatred and hate motivated violence exist without boundaries all around the globe. Discrimination unfortunately is an everyday reality. Since 2000 an international perspective was part of the work of jugendschutz.net facing right-wing extremism on the Internet. So the team searched for partner organizations in other countries to develop common strategies for the fight against cyber hate. 2002 jugendschutz.net co-founded INACH. For more information see International Network Against Cyber Hate as well as the latest INACH report INACH Report Cyber Hate 2009.

jugendschutz.net: Aims and tasks

jugendschutz.net is the cross-national organization for the protection of minors on the Internet in Germany. The Youth Ministries of the German Federal States founded jugendschutz.net in 1997 and since 2003 jugendschutz.net is assigned to the Commission for Youth Protection in the Media (KJM). The KJM is the responsible body to take measures against the violations of youth protection in the media.