Felix Klein, the German government’s Commissioner for Combating Antisemitism, has warned regarding the proliferation of antisemitic narratives on social networks such as TikTok and Telegram, advocating for stricter platform regulation. Speaking to the “Rheinische Post” (Saturday edition), Klein stated that these platforms act as accelerants for antisemitism. He criticized the view that these companies bear no responsibility, asserting that the belief that they are merely transmitters is an incorrect approach. Instead, he insisted that the standards of responsibility required in traditional German press law-specifically the accountability of editorial bodies for their content-must also be applied to internet platforms.
Klein further cautioned that antisemites are increasingly networking globally. He pointed out that rhetoric used in places like Australia during protests is literally heard in Germany, noting that the current response to this issue remains almost exclusively national. He stressed that this gap constitutes a structural disadvantage that urgently needs to be closed.
Finally, the departing Klein, who addressed Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), demanded that a successor for the position of Antisemitism Commissioner be appointed promptly. He emphasized that no gap should exist in this function, as his term ends at the close of August. Klein suggested that the cabinet decision regarding his replacement should ideally be made in early July, before the start of the summer recess.
