Free speech: Public prosecutor confirms more searches for insulting politicians

Complaints for insults and other offenses are being filed more and more frequently. The Würzburg public prosecutor's office confirmed this to Apollo News. Most recently, the Green ministers' anger at the lawsuit has attracted nationwide attention.

Since a Bavarian pensioner's house was searched because of an alleged insult, the litigation frenzy of certain politicians has received a lot of attention. Federal ministers Robert Habeck and Annalena Baerbock alone have, in their capacity as members of the government, filed more than 1,300 criminal complaints for insults or threats against ordinary citizens. Another case from Bavaria also caused controversy. Following criminal charges filed by Habeck and Baerbock, the house of a single mother was searched after she shared a photo collage with slightly incorrect quotes from politicians.

Apollo News asked various public prosecutors in Bavaria about house searches and reports of the criminal offense under Section 188, insulting or defaming people in political life. Some public prosecutors were unable to provide exact figures. However, the Würzburg public prosecutor noted that the "number of such proceedings has been increasing recently." The Würzburg public prosecutor was responsible for the house search of the single mother.

Other public prosecutors' offices provided specific figures. The Ingolstadt public prosecutor's office reported two house searches within the last three years due to reports of offenses related to expression under Section 188. The Landshut public prosecutor's office announced that 70 proceedings have been opened for offenses related to expression under Section 188 since the beginning of 2022.

It can be assumed that most criminal complaints are made for insults by politicians and other controversial people. There are now entire agencies that search the internet for potential insults, sometimes with AI, and then forward them to the victim. Habeck and others can file a criminal complaint with just a signature. Most recently, such an agency, run by JuLis chairwoman Franziska Brandmann, called "So Done", made the news.

Source: Apollo News