BERLIN (AP) — German law enforcement authorities on Thursday carried out raids across Germany against people suspected of posting misogynistic hate speech on the internet as part of of a coordinated push to shine the spotlight on online violence against women. None of the suspects were detained, Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office said in a statement. In preparation for the raids, authorities scoured the internet for posts that potentially broke anti-misogyny laws and attempted to identify the authors. The raids concentrated on suspects who had set their sights on well-known women like female politicians – often the target of misogynistic hatred online. Despite the law, online posts that degrade or threaten women often go unpunished, and many women say they avoid public attention fearing online attacks.

Source: The Nation March 07, 2024 15:30 UTC