
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1070611
INTRO: The majority of politically active Germans experience digital violence. The results of a study conducted by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in cooperation with the human rights organization HateAid show that around two thirds of affected women have experienced sexualized online attacks. Around one third of the respondents who experienced online aggression were also physically attacked. More than half changed their behavior – from self-restrictions on communications to the intention of abandoning their political involvement.
Ahead of the German federal election, several politicians have announced that they will no longer be running for office due to the extent of online threats and defamation they face. This shows that digital violence poses a threat to political participation and therefore to an important pillar of parliamentary democracy.
In cooperation with the human rights organization HateAid, a team of researchers at the Munich School of Politics and Public Policy at TUM surveyed around 1100 politically active Germans. The majority of the respondents were politicians at the municipal, state, federal and EU levels. Other participants were political activists, researchers, journalists, publicists and party members who do not hold elected office or mandates.
“We deliberately chose a broad spectrum because, along with politicians, other politically active persons help to shape public debate and are therefore part of the formation of political will and opinion,” says study author Luise Koch of the Professorship of Global Health at TUM. The non-representative online survey took place between April and October 2024 and was supplemented with 12 qualitative interviews.
Hateful comments, threats, discrimination. The study shows that more than half of politically active individuals are affected by digital violence, especially hateful comments, threats and discriminatory statements. 58 percent of those surveyed report hostile online attacks, most of which relate to their political positions.
Women (63%) experienced such violence more frequently than men (53%). Around two thirds of affected women reported gender-specific violence such as sexism or misogyny. Almost 25 percent have been threatened with sexual abuse of a physical nature such as rape threats (men: 3%). Affected men were threatened more frequently with other forms of physical violence such as being beaten up or killed (51%, 43% of women).
Around one third of those affected by digital abuse (32% of both men and women) have also experienced physical violence. Those who were not abused online were also less likely to be physically attacked (women: 14%; men: 10%).
Modifying tone and content in social media. More than one in two of the affected persons modified their communications, with women in particular considering giving up entirely. Women (66 %) as well as men (53 %) reduced their social media presence and modified their tone and content, for example. 49 percent of women and 30 percent of men at least occasionally considered turning down a position in which they might be heavily exposed to digital attacks. Far more women have considered giving up their political work entirely (22%, 10% of men).
Many politically active people feel abandoned. 66% of women and 49% of men stated that they feel inadequately prepared for online violence and its consequences regarding their political activities. Only 45 percent of the politicians felt that they were well supported in terms of prevention. More than half of those affected expressed a desire for greater solidarity within their communities and in the workplace... (MORE - details, no ads)
INTRO: The majority of politically active Germans experience digital violence. The results of a study conducted by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in cooperation with the human rights organization HateAid show that around two thirds of affected women have experienced sexualized online attacks. Around one third of the respondents who experienced online aggression were also physically attacked. More than half changed their behavior – from self-restrictions on communications to the intention of abandoning their political involvement.
Ahead of the German federal election, several politicians have announced that they will no longer be running for office due to the extent of online threats and defamation they face. This shows that digital violence poses a threat to political participation and therefore to an important pillar of parliamentary democracy.
In cooperation with the human rights organization HateAid, a team of researchers at the Munich School of Politics and Public Policy at TUM surveyed around 1100 politically active Germans. The majority of the respondents were politicians at the municipal, state, federal and EU levels. Other participants were political activists, researchers, journalists, publicists and party members who do not hold elected office or mandates.
“We deliberately chose a broad spectrum because, along with politicians, other politically active persons help to shape public debate and are therefore part of the formation of political will and opinion,” says study author Luise Koch of the Professorship of Global Health at TUM. The non-representative online survey took place between April and October 2024 and was supplemented with 12 qualitative interviews.
Hateful comments, threats, discrimination. The study shows that more than half of politically active individuals are affected by digital violence, especially hateful comments, threats and discriminatory statements. 58 percent of those surveyed report hostile online attacks, most of which relate to their political positions.
Women (63%) experienced such violence more frequently than men (53%). Around two thirds of affected women reported gender-specific violence such as sexism or misogyny. Almost 25 percent have been threatened with sexual abuse of a physical nature such as rape threats (men: 3%). Affected men were threatened more frequently with other forms of physical violence such as being beaten up or killed (51%, 43% of women).
Around one third of those affected by digital abuse (32% of both men and women) have also experienced physical violence. Those who were not abused online were also less likely to be physically attacked (women: 14%; men: 10%).
Modifying tone and content in social media. More than one in two of the affected persons modified their communications, with women in particular considering giving up entirely. Women (66 %) as well as men (53 %) reduced their social media presence and modified their tone and content, for example. 49 percent of women and 30 percent of men at least occasionally considered turning down a position in which they might be heavily exposed to digital attacks. Far more women have considered giving up their political work entirely (22%, 10% of men).
Many politically active people feel abandoned. 66% of women and 49% of men stated that they feel inadequately prepared for online violence and its consequences regarding their political activities. Only 45 percent of the politicians felt that they were well supported in terms of prevention. More than half of those affected expressed a desire for greater solidarity within their communities and in the workplace... (MORE - details, no ads)