In an interview with the Monday edition of the “Rheinische Post”, Anna‑Lena von Hodenberg, co‑CEO of Hate‑Aid, said the two of them have become a “pawn” in the U.S. sanctions game. “The United States is worried about the threat gesture that would prevent tech billionaires like Musk from paying fines” she added. “I would rather never travel to the United States again than watch us Europeans be blackmailed into surrendering to Americans”.
Von Hodenberg warned that both the German federal government and the EU must make it clear to Washington that any U.S. company wishing to earn billions of euros here has to do so under European rules. She added that she fears the Digital Service Act could be suspended simply because the U.S. is being feared too much.
Since January, she and colleague Josephine Ballon have shifted focus to repositioning their organization so that they can continue their work even if sanctions become harsher. “We have secured our data and emptied our PayPal account” she said. Hate‑Aid employs about 60 people, and they have re‑structured their payroll system to ensure everyone is paid.
Von Hodenberg also noted that sanctions could touch very private aspects of life. “I downloaded my photos from Google and stored them elsewhere, and I keep important documents in my email account” she explained. “The entry bans also affect families, but we are unclear about who is considered family-only immediate relatives or also distant relatives?”
