German Police Investigate Gab User for Insulting Politician Ricarda Lang Under Defamation Laws

Aug 28, 2024, 10:55 AM

The German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) has launched an investigation into a Gab user who allegedly insulted Ricarda Lang, a member of the Bundestag, by calling her 'fat' online. This action stems from a request for data sent to the social media platform Gab to identify the user responsible for the comments. The request is based on section 185 of the German criminal code, which addresses offenses against personal honor, and section 188, which provides defamation protection for politicians. Gab CEO Andrew Torba has stated that the company has refused to cooperate with the request. The investigation highlights the tension between free speech and legal protections against defamation in Germany, particularly concerning politicians.