The German Federal Interior Ministry has openly supported a mandatory identity check online. “The demand for a real‑name requirement is understandable given the increasing hate crime on the internet” a spokesperson for Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) told “Welt” in its Wednesday issue. He said the government would “constructively accompany” further debate.
Deputy chairman of the Union caucus, Günter Krings (CDU), urged Internet service providers to insist on users’ real names. “When users appear with an open face, that is the most effective way to curb hate and incitement while preserving freedom of expression without concession” Krings told the newspaper.
In contrast, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Justice explained that earlier statements by Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) against a “real‑name mandate” remain current. Hubig told “Tagesspiegel” last December, “I reject a state‑ordered real‑name requirement online. Those who wish to express opinions or experiences anonymously or under a pseudonym owe no account for it”.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD), the Greens, and the Left also oppose any tightening. AfD digital‑policy spokesperson Ruben Rupp announced resistance “with all means available to the opposition”. He said anonymity is “a central component of a free and open digital discourse”.
Green digital‑policy spokesperson Rebecca Lenhard rejected the idea, noting that anonymity and pseudonymity are “not luxuries, but pillars of freedom of opinion, press, and informational self‑determination”. She said a real‑name mandate would especially harm “minorities, whistleblowers, and people who cannot speak under their full names for professional or personal reasons”.
Linke digital‑policy spokesperson Donata Vogtschmidt likewise opposed a real‑name rule. She argued that many offenders already use real names, so banning anonymous posts is not a solution, and that anonymity is necessary for members of discriminated groups.
