Chancellor Merz calls for compulsory real names on the Internet

Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has once again spoken out in favor of a real name requirement on the Internet and has drawn a sharp distinction from the American understanding of freedom of expression. At a meeting in Berlin with prize winners of the federal “Jugend forscht” competition, Merz said on Tuesday: “Please don’t anyone come to me with free speech. That has nothing to do with free speech anymore.”

At best, this is a “libertarian understanding of politics” from parts of the USA that he does not share. A liberal society must be able to protect citizens, including “from false information, from personal degradation, from discrimination,” said the Chancellor.

The Chancellor, who, in his own words, grew up in the “analog world”, drew a comparison to classic media. Legal action could be taken against newspapers that spread false claims. This option contributed to a certain level of “hygiene”. On the Internet, however, users could appear under pseudonyms or fictitious names, which makes it more difficult to clarify responsibilities.

Merz argued that a liberal society must also protect citizens from misinformation, personal degradation and discrimination. As a further argument for a real name requirement, he cited the protection of scientists and researchers from intimidation and threats. He also referred to messages generated by bots, from which, according to him, the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt in particular had recently benefited.

Children and young people aged 15 to 21 take part in “Jugend forscht” with projects in the natural sciences and technology. The questioner and his brother had been working on quantum-safe telecommunications systems.