Germany September 2024 Deep Dive

The document details a rise in political violence in Germany, noting 3,691 attacks against politically active individuals in 2023. It analyzes how disinformation narratives targeting political leaders, civic institutions, and immigrants are leveraged by domestic actors (such as the AfD and BSW) and foreign actors (primarily Russia via RT Deutsch and Pravda-DE) to destabilize the democratic system. The report highlights the role of 'mirror websites' and VPNs in bypassing sanctions on Russian media and notes that over 75% of adversarial content from analyzed domains relates to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

• Political violence against politically active individuals in Germany is increasing, with recorded instances rising from 1,994 in 2022 to 3,691 in 2023. Politicians from the Greens party are the most targeted, with 1,219 recorded attacks in 2023, followed by the AfD (478), SPD (420), FDP (299), CDU (295), and Die Linke (79).
• Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), primarily driven by Russia, amplifies existing domestic divisions. Russian outlets like RT Deutsch and Pravda-DE promote narratives that the German government is oppressive, deceptive, and failing its citizens, often focusing on the AfD as the only solution to a perceived deep crisis.
• Disinformation narratives frequently target high-profile political leaders using misogyny, conspiracy theories, and accusations of incompetence. Examples include labeling Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock a "war witch" and "Annalenchen," and accusing Economic Minister Robert Habeck of using the Renewable Heating Act as a "climate policy ‘experiment’" on the population.
• Anti-immigrant narratives have intensified following 2024 terrorist incidents in Solingen and Mannheim. Far-right outlets frame these events as evidence of the failure of establishment parties' immigration policies, claiming migration has become a "weapon against Germany."
• The disinformation ecosystem is characterized by high reach and cross-platform syndication. RT Deutsch is the most influential analyzed site with 10 million monthly page views. Across the analyzed domains, 28 out of 43 articles were syndicated or backlinked, and over 75% of adversarial content from the last five months relates to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
• Adversarial narratives target the integrity of German civic institutions, including the Offices for the Protection of the Constitution (Verfassungsschutz). The AfD and its supporters claim these agencies protect the government rather than the Constitution and use them to frame the party as victims of an establishment attempt to destroy their electoral chances.

APA

Global Disinformation Index (n.d.). Germany September 2024 Deep Dive. https://www.disinformationindex.org/files/germany-september-2024-deep-dive.pdf

Chicago

Global Disinformation Index. Germany September 2024 Deep Dive. n.d. https://www.disinformationindex.org/files/germany-september-2024-deep-dive.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Disinformation Index |title=Germany September 2024 Deep Dive |url=https://www.disinformationindex.org/files/germany-september-2024-deep-dive.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globaldisinformationindexndgermany, author = {{Global Disinformation Index}}, title = {{Germany September 2024 Deep Dive}}, institution = {Global Disinformation Index}, url = {https://www.disinformationindex.org/files/germany-september-2024-deep-dive.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }