Germany
Germany is a country of high Internet
penetration, at approximately 76 percent. Occasionally, takedown requests
and access restrictions are imposed on
ISPs, usually with the justification of
protecting minors or in compliance
with Germany’s objective to suppress
hate speech and extremism. In April
2009, the German government signed
a bill that would implement largescale filtering of child pornography Web sites, with the possibility for later expansion. Additionally, the German government recently approved draft legislation to
implement data retention.
Background
After World War II, Germany was divided into American, British, French, and Russian
zones. The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany), a federal parliamentary
republic, was founded in 1949 out of the three Western zones. The German Democratic Republic (East Germany), an authoritarian socialist state, was established in
the Russian zone. In both states, continuing to uphold the obligations of Germany’s
history and preventing a repetition of extremism have been a priority ever since. In
RESULTS AT A GLANCE
Filtering
No Evidence
of Filtering
Suspected
Filtering
Selective
Filtering
Substantial
Filtering
Pervasive
Filtering
Political
Social
Conflict and security
Internet tools
Other Factors
Low
Medium
High
Not
Applicable
Transparency
Consistency
Germany is a country of high Internet
penetration, at approximately 76 percent. Occasionally, takedown requests
and access restrictions are imposed on
ISPs, usually with the justification of
protecting minors or in compliance
with Germany’s objective to suppress
hate speech and extremism. In April
2009, the German government signed
a bill that would implement largescale filtering of child pornography Web sites, with the possibility for later expansion. Additionally, the German government recently approved draft legislation to
implement data retention.
Background
After World War II, Germany was divided into American, British, French, and Russian
zones. The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany), a federal parliamentary
republic, was founded in 1949 out of the three Western zones. The German Democratic Republic (East Germany), an authoritarian socialist state, was established in
the Russian zone. In both states, continuing to uphold the obligations of Germany’s
history and preventing a repetition of extremism have been a priority ever since. In
RESULTS AT A GLANCE
Filtering
No Evidence
of Filtering
Suspected
Filtering
Selective
Filtering
Substantial
Filtering
Pervasive
Filtering
Political
Social
Conflict and security
Internet tools
Other Factors
Low
Medium
High
Not
Applicable
Transparency
Consistency