social Media Hate Speech Cases Rise in Seligenstadt area,Highlighting Platform Challenges
Seligenstadt,germany – Six cases of hate speech were reported in 2024 within the jurisdiction of the Seligenstadt police station (covering Seligenstadt,Hainburg,and Mainhausen),revealing a persistent issue of online abuse and the difficulties in addressing it.The cases included four instances of insult,defamation,or malicious prosecution (§§ 186 & 187 StGB),alongside reports concerning crimes against individuals involved in political life and the endorsement of criminal acts.
These incidents, occurring both directly online and via mobile messaging apps like WhatsApp, underscore the growing challenge of moderating harmful content on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. While platforms often remove reported posts, the impact of such speech – its readership, engagement, and normalization of insult and discrimination – remains a meaningful concern. Police investigations, once completed, forward cases to the public prosecutor for further action.
Authorities emphasize that successful prosecution of online crimes frequently relies on cooperation from social media platforms and internet service providers, particularly when dealing with anonymous users. The Seligenstadt police data reflects a broader trend: despite community guidelines, reports of hate speech often yield limited results, and the effects of harmful content can linger even after removal.
“[…] even if registered contributions are removed from the platforms, their effect remains. They are read, liked, shared and commented and create a space in which insult and discrimination become normal,” as noted in reporting on the issue.
