Press release based on HateAid gGmbH (source; adapted by bidt)
Digital violence also has an impact on the behaviour of those affected: This ranges from the restriction of communication in social media to the planned withdrawal from political engagement. HateAid calls on political parties, law enforcement agencies and social media platform operators to urgently provide better protection for politically engaged individuals.
In the study “Attacked & left alone: How digital violence affects political engagement. A situation report”, Prof. Dr Janina Steinert, Dr Angelina Voggenreiter and Luise Koch from the TUM School of Public Policy investigated to what extent and in what form politically engaged people in Germany experience digital violence and what effects this has on the behaviour and willingness of respondents to (continue to) assume political responsibility.
The authors of the study were funded by the bidt over a period of three years. In their research project “Understanding, recognising and defusing online hostility towards politically active women (Misogyny 2.0)”, the interdisciplinary project team from Munich worked to better understand the content and modes of action of extreme speech towards political actors and to develop methods for the early detection of such emerging dynamics.
In the current study, a total of 1,114 politically active individuals working at local, state, federal and EU level were surveyed. The majority of respondents were politicians from all parties represented in the Bundestag. Other participants included politically engaged activists, academics, journalists, publicists and party members without a political mandate. A quantitative online survey (survey period 27 April to 21 October 2014) and twelve qualitative interviews (2 July to 26 August 2014) were conducted. The study is not representative.
Research Project
These are the most important results:
- More than half of those involved in politics are affected. 58% of all respondents reported hostility on the internet. Most were directed against the political positioning of those affected.
- Politically engaged women experienced digital violence particularly frequently. Women (63%) are more affected than men (53%). 68% of the women affected report gender-specific violence such as sexism or misogyny. Almost a quarter of women affected have received threats of physical sexual violence, e.g. rape threats (men 3%). The men concerned have more frequently been threatened with other forms of physical violence, such as beatings or murder (51%, women 43%).
I and other female politicians should all be raped by refugees… then we would see.
Federal politician
- The violence does not remain on the internet. A larger proportion of people affected by digital violence also reported having experienced analogue violence: They were more likely to experience physical attacks (32% each for men and women) than those not affected by digital violence (10% of men, 14% of women).
There are many people for whom I am to blame for their personal fates – they also know where I live […].
Local politician
- More than every second politically active person affected changes their communication – women in particular are thinking about quitting. Both women (66%) and men (53%) affected by digital violence restricted their use of social media. They adapted their tone and content, for example. 49% of the women affected and 30% of the men affected at least sometimes considered not accepting a position because they feared that they would be exposed to particularly frequent digital hostility in this position. A complete withdrawal from political work was also a much more frequent option for affected women (22%; men: 10%).
I am actually going to resign. I have realised for myself that I don't want to be in the public eye like this… and I don't want to be active in party politics anymore.
Federal politician
- Politicians and those involved in politics feel left in the lurch. 49% of men and 66% of women from all professional groups surveyed stated that they did not feel sufficiently prepared for digital violence and its consequences in terms of their political involvement. Only 45% of politicians felt well supported in terms of prevention. More than half of those affected by digital violence expressed a desire for more solidarity within their communities and workplaces.
I asked twice if I could get support, but nothing ever happened.
Federal politician
Prof Dr Janina Steinert, Professor of Global Health at the Technical University of Munich:
The results clearly show that although women and men experience a similar amount of hatred, female political activists are significantly more affected by sexualised violence, e.g. threats of rape. This can be particularly stressful. The effects are striking: women are more likely to change their public communication or consider withdrawing from politics. Women are already underrepresented in parliaments and political parties.
A number of politicians announced that they would no longer be standing in the Bundestag elections due to the extent of threats and defamation. These include the former Commissioner for Eastern Europe Marco Wanderwitz (CDU) and MP Tessa Ganserer (Greens).
Yvonne Magwas, CDU member of the Bundestag and Vice President of the German Bundestag, commented:
Hardly a day has gone by in my political career without me being attacked online. Insults, threats and hate speech have not only cost me a lot of energy, but I am also very worried. If politically engaged people continue to be attacked online – and offline – without protection, hatred will continue to corrode our democratic coexistence.
The study results show that digital violence jeopardises political engagement in Germany – and thus an important pillar of parliamentary democracy.
Anna-Lena von Hodenberg, Managing Director of HateAid, comments:
We are seeing it in the current election campaign: the hate and lies that politically active people are exposed to are changing the way many of them do politics, act and communicate. Above all, it also influences the decision as to whether and how they get involved at all. This is systematic and must alarm us. Because if fewer and fewer people dare to get involved in our liberal democracy, then we will all lose. That is why politicians, the judiciary, parties and platforms must finally do everything they can to effectively protect politicians and other committed individuals.
An appeal from the human rights organisation HateAid
HateAid appeals to party leaders not to leave politicians alone with hate – especially during election campaigns. The human rights organisation calls for:
- Specialised contact points for those affected by digital violence within the parties must be set up as a matter of urgency and provided with sufficient resources. These centres should then support members and candidates, for example, in reporting content on the platforms, securing evidence and providing support with criminal charges.
- Criminal charges must be pursued consistently and promptly by the judiciary and law enforcement authorities. They must be provided with the necessary resources to do so. Those affected should be informed about the outcome of proceedings, even without having to submit an application, as is currently the case.
- Under the Digital Services Act (DSA), operators of social media platforms are obliged to assess and minimise any actual or foreseeable detrimental effects on social debate and electoral processes. Digital violence against politicians must not be amplified by algorithms. Reported content must be checked quickly and removed if necessary. HateAid calls for the DSA to be consistently enforced in this regard. This is all the more important following Meta’s announcements to restrict fact-checking and moderation.
Further information and download of the study:
Photos of the press conference can be downloaded from the download centre on the HateAid website.
About the bidt
The Bavarian Research Institute for Digital Transformation (bidt) is an institute of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities. It contributes to a better understanding of the developments and challenges of digital change. In doing so, it provides the basis for shaping the digital future in dialogue with society in a responsible and public interest-oriented manner. The bidt promotes outstanding interdisciplinary research and, as a think tank, provides decision-makers in politics and business with evidence-based recommendations. Research at the institute takes place in an open dialogue between science, politics, business and society.
Press contact: Leonie Liebich presse@bidt.digital, Tel.: 49 89 540 235 631
About HateAid gGmbH
The non-profit organisation HateAid was founded in 2018 and is based in Berlin. It campaigns for human rights in the digital space and is committed to combating digital violence and its consequences at a social and political level. HateAid provides concrete support to those affected by digital violence through counselling and funding for legal costs. The managing directors are Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon. HateAid is the recipient of the Theodor Heuss Medal 2023.
Press contact: presse@hateaid.org, Tel. 030 25208837
About the Technical University of Munich (TUM):
With around 650 professorships, 53,000 students and 12,000 employees, the Technical University of Munich (TUM) is one of the world’s strongest universities in terms of research, teaching and innovation. Its range of subjects includes computer science, engineering, natural and life sciences, medicine, mathematics, economics and social sciences. It acts as an entrepreneurial university and sees itself as a centre of knowledge exchange, open to society. More than 70 start-ups are founded at TUM every year and it is a key player in the Munich high-tech ecosystem. It is represented worldwide with the TUM Asia campus in Singapore and offices in Brussels, Mumbai, Beijing, San Francisco and São Paulo. it was honoured as a University of Excellence in 2006, 2012 and 2019. It is regularly named the best university in the European Union in international rankings.
Press contact: klaus.becker@tum.de, Tel. 089 28922798
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