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How Jokes Can Get You Blocked in Germany

Comedians in Germany say that a new law – one of the toughest in Europe – has led to their social media jokes being deleted. Is the fight against hate speech limiting free speech?

At the start of this year, Germany introduced one of the strictest laws on online hate speech in Europe. Social media companies are required to take down illegal hate speech under the threat of massive fines.
But there have been some strange consequences as a result of the new law, and many are worried about its impact on free speech.
Some comedians are now complaining that their material is becoming a casualty in an increasing “culture of deletion”.
This week we’re in Germany speaking to a young stand-up comedian, a cartoonist and the head of a satirical magazine, Titanic. They tell the story of how their deleted jokes made headlines across the country and sparked a debate on whether the new law is undermining freedom of expression.

Reporter: Jan Bruck
Presenter: Jonathan Griffin
Producer: Elizabeth Cassin

Photo Caption: German comedian Sophie Passmann was one of the first people to be caught up in the country’s new hate speech law when one of her jokes on Twitter was deleted
Photo Credit: ±«Óătv

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23 minutes

Last on

Mon 16 Apr 2018 03:06GMT

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  • Fri 13 Apr 2018 21:06GMT
  • Sun 15 Apr 2018 00:32GMT
  • Mon 16 Apr 2018 01:32GMT
  • Mon 16 Apr 2018 03:06GMT

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