Overview
- Schleswig-Holstein Minister-President Daniel Günther urged making social media inaccessible to under‑16s in Germany and ideally across Europe during an appearance on ZDF’s Markus Lanz.
- He framed major tech platforms as threats to democracy and cited his state’s shift away from Microsoft products toward open-source systems as a protective model for public infrastructure.
- Günther backed stronger platform regulation, proposing a digital levy to support traditional media and describing certain portals, including Nius, as enemies of democracy.
- He endorsed pursuing a nationwide AfD ban, arguing the party acts against democratic institutions, while acknowledging the need for cross-party consensus.
- Guests warned of censorship risks, with journalist Adrian Geiges invoking China’s internet controls, and Günther separately called for preparing new domestic roles for the Bundeswehr in response to rising drone incidents, potentially requiring a Basic Law amendment.