Overview
- Bavarian Digital Minister Fabian Mehring supports introducing a real-name requirement for social media to curb anonymous hate and says free speech does not entail a right to anonymity.
- Berlin Justice Senator Felor Badenberg calls for an open, targeted debate, warning of growing disinhibition online and urging tools to identify suspects in defined cases.
- Officials press for stronger platform responsibility alongside enforcement, while Voßkuhle says a mandate would be constitutionally permissible but must preserve space for government criticism.
- Critics and community voices caution that a real-name rule could endanger vulnerable users, enable profiling, and suffer from the same technical and enforcement gaps seen with age checks.
- No federal legislation has been tabled, with discussion focused on scope, identity verification, platform obligations under the Digital Services Act, and safeguards for legitimate anonymity.