Radicalization on the Internet: A threat to our democracy!

Radicalization on the Internet: A threat to our democracy!

On June 17, 2025, an important event took place in North Rhine-Westphalia, at which Jürgen Kayser, the head of the NRW Office for the Protection of the Constitution, spoke about the current security situation and the challenges for democracy. Under the title “Current security situation in North Rhine-Westphalia – global crises and interactions in extremism/role of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution and cooperation with the police,” Kayser discussed the role of the police and the Office for the Protection of the Constitution in the fight against extremism and securing democratic values. In his lecture, he warned of the threat to democracy caused by disregard for the judiciary, the undermining of the separation of powers and attacks on academic freedom.

A central concern of the discussion was the threats that come from both within and without. According to Kayser, there is an increasing tendency towards radicalization in society, which is being promoted by dangerous digital extremism strategies. Particularly worrying is the role of the smartphone, which acts as a “radicalization machine in your pocket,” as it enables young people to be drawn into trends of extremism.

Threats from digital extremism

Right-wing extremists in particular make massive use of the Internet to recruit and mobilize new followers. A current brochure from the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution examines how the Internet acts as a motor for right-wing extremist radicalization. These actors primarily use social media platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Steam and Telegram, the latter being a central contact point for right-wing extremist scenes. These platforms not only enable networking and recruiting, but also the spread of racist, anti-Semitic and anti-democratic propaganda.

Strategic communication is carried out by right-wing extremist influencers and trolls who subtly mix content with social issues in order to push the boundaries of political discourse. Dynamization processes in the digital space can trigger right-wing terrorist acts of violence, as the attacks in Halle in 2019 and Hanau in 2020 clearly show. Security authorities, including the BfV, are closely monitoring this development and working to identify radicalized individuals and networks.

Cooperation between the Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the police

Cooperation between the Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the police is essential for protecting democracy. While the Office for the Protection of the Constitution specializes in the early detection and analysis of extremism, the police act as a visible authority of the state with a high level of trust among the population. This collaboration aims to convey democratic values ​​in everyday life and to make citizens aware of threats.

Some of the measures that the police are implementing in Münster, among others, are proactively strengthening trust in democracy and working with children, young people and refugees. The police also strive to promote trust in religious communities and the queer community and to actively address people who have little trust in the state.

Opportunities for action for society

Every individual is required to adopt a respectful attitude and speak out against extremist ideas and fake news. Education and enlightenment are central elements in ensuring social cohesion and promoting transformation processes. The appeal goes to civil society and online communities to actively combat hate and hate speech on the Internet.

The challenges for democracy are diverse and require increased visibility of the police and the Office for the Protection of the Constitution as well as the active participation of all citizens. Only together can the dangers of radicalization and extremism be successfully countered.