Alexander Hohlfeld
@alhohlfeld.bsky.social
Digitalisation & Society | Digital Policy | Recommender Systems | Freedom of Speech | 🗣️: 🇬🇧 / 🇩🇪 | https://linktr.ee/al.hohlfeld
A professor in Germany was banned from teaching for 16 months after the domestic intelligence service wrongly classified him as a “right-wing extremist” based solely on guilt by association:
www.faz.net/aktuell/poli...
German "militant democracy" is on a dangerous path
www.faz.net/aktuell/poli...
German "militant democracy" is on a dangerous path
Opfer des Verfassungsschutzes: Der Staatsfeind, der keiner war
16 Monate lang erhielt ein Professor in Hessen Lehrverbot, weil ihn der Verfassungsschutz dem „Rechtsextremismus“ zuordnete. Die Geschichte einer Peinigung.
www.faz.net
November 9, 2025 at 2:29 PM
A professor in Germany was banned from teaching for 16 months after the domestic intelligence service wrongly classified him as a “right-wing extremist” based solely on guilt by association:
www.faz.net/aktuell/poli...
German "militant democracy" is on a dangerous path
www.faz.net/aktuell/poli...
German "militant democracy" is on a dangerous path
Reposted by Alexander Hohlfeld
"Unter anderem soll der umstrittene Tatbestand der Politikerbeleidigung auf Journalisten ausgedehnt werden"
Bitte, bitte liebe Zentristen, hört endlich auf mit diesem furchtbaren Quatsch, ihr macht alles nur noch schlimmer
www.lto.de/recht/nachri...
Bitte, bitte liebe Zentristen, hört endlich auf mit diesem furchtbaren Quatsch, ihr macht alles nur noch schlimmer
www.lto.de/recht/nachri...
JuMiKo: Politikerbeleidigung auf Journalisten ausweiten
Das Saarland will Angriffe auf Medienschaffende zielgerichteter im StGB ahnden. Angeregt wird, die Politikerbeleidigung auf Journalisten auszudehnen.
www.lto.de
October 31, 2025 at 8:23 AM
"Unter anderem soll der umstrittene Tatbestand der Politikerbeleidigung auf Journalisten ausgedehnt werden"
Bitte, bitte liebe Zentristen, hört endlich auf mit diesem furchtbaren Quatsch, ihr macht alles nur noch schlimmer
www.lto.de/recht/nachri...
Bitte, bitte liebe Zentristen, hört endlich auf mit diesem furchtbaren Quatsch, ihr macht alles nur noch schlimmer
www.lto.de/recht/nachri...
Reposted by Alexander Hohlfeld
wenn sich etwas tatsächlich so verhält, wie einer behauptet, dass es sich verhält, dann „insinuiert“ er eigentlich gar nicht, oder?
October 23, 2025 at 6:29 PM
wenn sich etwas tatsächlich so verhält, wie einer behauptet, dass es sich verhält, dann „insinuiert“ er eigentlich gar nicht, oder?
📊 The #DSA data access portal is live, and VLOPs/VLOSEs have begun publishing their data catalogues.
Trying to collect the links again: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Trying to collect the links again: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
lnkd.in
October 29, 2025 at 3:40 PM
📊 The #DSA data access portal is live, and VLOPs/VLOSEs have begun publishing their data catalogues.
Trying to collect the links again: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Trying to collect the links again: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Reposted by Alexander Hohlfeld
German “hate speech” laws are already troubling, but their enforcement has become alarmingly disproportionate, unconstitutional, and incompatible with a free society, writes Affiliate Fellow @alhohlfeld.bsky.social.
October 27, 2025 at 4:35 PM
German “hate speech” laws are already troubling, but their enforcement has become alarmingly disproportionate, unconstitutional, and incompatible with a free society, writes Affiliate Fellow @alhohlfeld.bsky.social.
German “hate speech” laws are already troubling, but their enforcement has become alarmingly disproportionate, unconstitutional, and incompatible with a free society. When investigation becomes punishment, the rule of law itself is at risk. Check out my latest blog post at @futurefreespeech.org
Punishment Before Trial? 'Hate Speech' Raids in Germany
German “hate speech” laws are already troubling, but their enforcement has become alarmingly disproportionate, unconstitutional, and incompatible with a free society.
www.bedrockprinciple.com
October 24, 2025 at 2:38 PM
German “hate speech” laws are already troubling, but their enforcement has become alarmingly disproportionate, unconstitutional, and incompatible with a free society. When investigation becomes punishment, the rule of law itself is at risk. Check out my latest blog post at @futurefreespeech.org
A dangerous trend continues www.politico.eu/article/germ...
October 23, 2025 at 4:45 PM
A dangerous trend continues www.politico.eu/article/germ...
Reposted by Alexander Hohlfeld
Humans are humans on TikTok too.
Negativity drives engagement on political TikTok
Negativity drives engagement on political TikTok
TikTok users are more likely to interact with political videos that target out-groups, express negative emotion, or call for action. Engagement patterns differ by political leaning, but conflict-driven and emotionally charged content consistently performs better across the ideological spectrum.
www.psypost.org
October 14, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Humans are humans on TikTok too.
Reposted by Alexander Hohlfeld
We are alarmed by reports that Germany is on the verge of a catastrophic about-face, reversing its longstanding and principled opposition to the EU’s Chat Control proposal which, if passed, could spell the end of the right to privacy in Europe. signal.org/blog/pdfs/ge...
signal.org
October 3, 2025 at 4:14 PM
We are alarmed by reports that Germany is on the verge of a catastrophic about-face, reversing its longstanding and principled opposition to the EU’s Chat Control proposal which, if passed, could spell the end of the right to privacy in Europe. signal.org/blog/pdfs/ge...
Reposted by Alexander Hohlfeld
“Every counterrevolution, like every revolution, begins by being afraid of its own people.”
—Hannah Arendt, On Revolution (1963) 🇩🇪
—Hannah Arendt, On Revolution (1963) 🇩🇪
October 2, 2025 at 8:43 AM
“Every counterrevolution, like every revolution, begins by being afraid of its own people.”
—Hannah Arendt, On Revolution (1963) 🇩🇪
—Hannah Arendt, On Revolution (1963) 🇩🇪
Reposted by Alexander Hohlfeld
20 years ago, Denmark upheld free speech even when cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad sparked deadly protests.
But today, @mchangama.bsky.social says European democracies are increasingly choosing appeasement — and the violence hasn't stopped.
But today, @mchangama.bsky.social says European democracies are increasingly choosing appeasement — and the violence hasn't stopped.
September 30, 2025 at 11:16 PM
20 years ago, Denmark upheld free speech even when cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad sparked deadly protests.
But today, @mchangama.bsky.social says European democracies are increasingly choosing appeasement — and the violence hasn't stopped.
But today, @mchangama.bsky.social says European democracies are increasingly choosing appeasement — and the violence hasn't stopped.
Reposted by Alexander Hohlfeld
Those who point out falsehoods on their own side are assumed to be working for the enemy, because our hunter-gatherer brains struggle to comprehend that someone could genuinely care about the truth more than any tribe. This makes political movements hard to self-correct.
September 21, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Those who point out falsehoods on their own side are assumed to be working for the enemy, because our hunter-gatherer brains struggle to comprehend that someone could genuinely care about the truth more than any tribe. This makes political movements hard to self-correct.
Reposted by Alexander Hohlfeld
Free speech doesn’t belong to the left or the right. Both will claim it when it suits their purpose, and both will disavow it for the same reason. The only people who genuinely support free speech are those rare souls whose principles are strong enough to survive politics itself.
September 19, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Free speech doesn’t belong to the left or the right. Both will claim it when it suits their purpose, and both will disavow it for the same reason. The only people who genuinely support free speech are those rare souls whose principles are strong enough to survive politics itself.
Reposted by Alexander Hohlfeld
In a webinar today about the threats to expression in the U.S., I said the question was ultimately more about whether people would have the courage to fight for their rights than whether they would win those fights. You do not retain rights you willingly give up.
September 17, 2025 at 11:26 PM
In a webinar today about the threats to expression in the U.S., I said the question was ultimately more about whether people would have the courage to fight for their rights than whether they would win those fights. You do not retain rights you willingly give up.
Reposted by Alexander Hohlfeld
"I had friends say to me, look, we can oppose political violence without whitewashing this guy. I spent some time thinking about that over the weekend...and my reaction honestly is that it is too little to just say we oppose political violence."
September 17, 2025 at 5:13 PM
"I had friends say to me, look, we can oppose political violence without whitewashing this guy. I spent some time thinking about that over the weekend...and my reaction honestly is that it is too little to just say we oppose political violence."
Reposted by Alexander Hohlfeld
Student acceptance of violence to silence speakers is at a record high.
In 2020, 1 in 5 students said violence was acceptable to stop a speaker. In 2025, that number is 1 in 3.
That’s a 79% increase in just five years. And it’s chilling.
In 2020, 1 in 5 students said violence was acceptable to stop a speaker. In 2025, that number is 1 in 3.
That’s a 79% increase in just five years. And it’s chilling.
September 12, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Student acceptance of violence to silence speakers is at a record high.
In 2020, 1 in 5 students said violence was acceptable to stop a speaker. In 2025, that number is 1 in 3.
That’s a 79% increase in just five years. And it’s chilling.
In 2020, 1 in 5 students said violence was acceptable to stop a speaker. In 2025, that number is 1 in 3.
That’s a 79% increase in just five years. And it’s chilling.
Reposted by Alexander Hohlfeld
Reposted by Alexander Hohlfeld
BREAKING: Charlie Kirk was shot during an event at Utah Valley University today. Details of the incident are still unfolding.
Political violence is never an acceptable response to speech. Free speech allows us to settle our differences peacefully and is essential to a free and democratic society.
Political violence is never an acceptable response to speech. Free speech allows us to settle our differences peacefully and is essential to a free and democratic society.
September 10, 2025 at 7:23 PM
BREAKING: Charlie Kirk was shot during an event at Utah Valley University today. Details of the incident are still unfolding.
Political violence is never an acceptable response to speech. Free speech allows us to settle our differences peacefully and is essential to a free and democratic society.
Political violence is never an acceptable response to speech. Free speech allows us to settle our differences peacefully and is essential to a free and democratic society.
Reposted by Alexander Hohlfeld
"Nobody ever says, 'We're censoring protected speech'...They say it's misinformation, or it's support of terrorism, or it's antithetical to American values."
This free-speech defender makes enemies left and right
First Amendment lawyer Jenin Younes backed anti-vaccine activists against the Biden administration’s covid restrictions. Now she is ready to sue the Trump administration for suppressing free speech.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 9, 2025 at 6:14 PM
"Nobody ever says, 'We're censoring protected speech'...They say it's misinformation, or it's support of terrorism, or it's antithetical to American values."
Scientific activism "shares essential basic assumptions with its populist counterpart and thus plays into its hands" 💯
www.faz.net/aktuell/feui...
www.faz.net/aktuell/feui...
Die konfuse Logik der politisierten Wissenschaft
Die Politisierung der Wissenschaft läuft anders ab als früher. Um sie aufzuhalten, muss man verstehen, dass aktivistische Bestrebungen innerhalb der Wissenschaft und rechtspopulistischer Druck von auß...
www.faz.net
September 5, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Scientific activism "shares essential basic assumptions with its populist counterpart and thus plays into its hands" 💯
www.faz.net/aktuell/feui...
www.faz.net/aktuell/feui...
Reposted by Alexander Hohlfeld
Bluesky is now blocking access to people in Mississippi due to the state's problematic age verification law. Thread (and attached blog post) have more details...
Unfortunately, Bluesky is unavailable in Mississippi right now, due to a new state law that requires age verification for all users.
While intended for child safety, we think this law poses broader challenges & creates significant barriers that limit free speech & harm smaller platforms like ours.
While intended for child safety, we think this law poses broader challenges & creates significant barriers that limit free speech & harm smaller platforms like ours.
August 22, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Bluesky is now blocking access to people in Mississippi due to the state's problematic age verification law. Thread (and attached blog post) have more details...
Reposted by Alexander Hohlfeld
🎯"the dominant approach since 2016 fundamentally misunderstands the nature of communication... researchers and policymakers ought to engage with the full complexity of communication processes, including the agency of messengers and audiences"
Unpacking the Risk of Misinformation: A Communication‐Based Critique
A raft of authors argue that society is drowning in a sea of misinformation, disinformation, and fake news. Some claim we are living in a new world disorder, misinformation age, or post-truth era, fu...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
August 22, 2025 at 3:30 AM
🎯"the dominant approach since 2016 fundamentally misunderstands the nature of communication... researchers and policymakers ought to engage with the full complexity of communication processes, including the agency of messengers and audiences"
Reposted by Alexander Hohlfeld
Given the current moment in the US, liberals should reflect on the dangers of illiberal censorship and government repression of speech in all forms www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Europe’s Free-Speech Problem
Republicans are right to criticize Europe for attacking free expression, even if that makes them hypocritical.
www.theatlantic.com
August 21, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Given the current moment in the US, liberals should reflect on the dangers of illiberal censorship and government repression of speech in all forms www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Reposted by Alexander Hohlfeld
Have there been civil society complaints about the binding commitments that Ali Express entered with the EU Commission to settle its DSA investigation? They look like they were negotiated by someone who didn't read the whole DSA. Particularly Art. 8. 1/
digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/comm...
digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/comm...
August 20, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Have there been civil society complaints about the binding commitments that Ali Express entered with the EU Commission to settle its DSA investigation? They look like they were negotiated by someone who didn't read the whole DSA. Particularly Art. 8. 1/
digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/comm...
digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/comm...