Overview

• Police unions in Germany have raised concerns over the widespread sharing of videos from police operations on social media, citing privacy and safety risks for officers.
• GdP chairman Jochen Kopelke emphasized the need for clear regulations on what can be filmed and shared, stating that current practices have become intolerable.
• The Deutsche Polizeigewerkschaft (DPolG) highlighted that unauthorized dissemination of officer footage may violate personality rights and expose officers and their families to harassment and threats.
• The debate intensified after a fatal police shooting in Oldenburg, prompting warnings against sharing images of uninvolved officers, with potential criminal penalties for violations.
• Unions acknowledged that immediate legislative changes are unlikely and called on interior ministries to provide legal support in civil and criminal cases involving defamation or harassment.