Friday 17th December 2021
After a death threat against politicians
Kretschmer calls for a crackdown on Telegram
The death threats against Saxony’s Prime Minister Kretschmer fuel the debate about regulating the Telegram intelligence service. Kretschmer himself wants a tough crackdown: After all, there shouldn’t be any unlawful areas on the Internet.
Saxony’s Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) has called for a crackdown on the Telegram communications service, according to a media report. “Anyone who only hears lies there for months or even years will no longer recognize the truth,” Kretschmer told the “Spiegel”. Such people have to be shown limits. “This time it’s against me. The next time it’s against a judge or a mayor or a doctor,” said Kretschmer.
In contrast to Twitter and Facebook, Telegram does not see any effort to adhere to the basic rules. “Nobody takes responsibility there. That is not possible. There must be no lawless areas on the Internet.” The lies are taking on a dangerous level for democracy. Kretschmer had recently been the victim of death threats on Telegram and in real meetings.
Social media had made a significant contribution to radicalization. “They ensure that regular slogans are now widespread. There is no discourse, no standards. There is madness like secret knowledge,” said Kretschmer, citing the conspiracy myth of microchips implanted with the vaccination as an example.
Research by the ZDF magazine “Frontal” led to a raid on Wednesday with 140 officers in several apartments in Dresden and Heidenau (Saxon Switzerland). Three crossbows, weapons and weapon parts were also found, and cell phones, computers and storage media were seized.
According to the LKA, it is about a chat group called “Dresden Offline Networking” with more than 100 members. The accused are suspected of having prepared a serious act of violence that endangers the state. According to the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Germans are united by their rejection of vaccinations, the state and the current Corona policy.