Media institutions as censorship authorities

25.06.2021 | www.kla.tv/19088

After private platforms such as the Google subsidiary Youtube are increasingly blocking channels that are critical of Corona politics, also the State Media Authorities in Germany, i.e. official authorities, have been taking action against critical media since mid-February 2021. On February 16th, 2021, Deutschlandfunk (DLF) reported, "Media watchdogs are taking action against right-wing online media." According to the report, in a letter to 13 online media, the media institutions accuse them of violating journalistic rules. Those affected would face sanctions, it says. Caught in the media authorities' crosshairs was, for example, the Internet platform “Freie Welt”, which was contacted by the Berlin-Brandenburg State Media Authority. In a four-minute short video, Beatrix von Storch, as the person affected, presents her view of this regulatory attack: Transcribed text: I didn't think until today that this was possible in our country – and I actually still can't believe that this is real. Under the radar of the public, the state governments, i.e., the established parties, created a very official censorship authority on November 7th: The State Media Authorities. The state now monitors the Internet, and in a first wave they sent so-called "notice letters" to 13 Internet platforms. One went to the Internet platform “Freie Welt”. Sender: Medienanstalt Berlin-Brandenburg, responsible Dr. Marco Holz. I quote: "As an institution under public law, the Media Authority Berlin-Brandenburg is responsible for violations of the journalistic duty of professional diligence. All contributions in the editorially supervised sections, Facebook profiles, YouTube and Telegram channels, are from now on subject to content-related, official control and supervision." The state supervises diligence, and does so at will. Dr. Marco Holz lectures the Freie Welt on what is part of its central duties. To research properly, for example, and to choose sources carefully. While reviewing Freie Welt, he came across articles "that in some passages may violate the above-mentioned the journalistic duty of professional diligence." Mr. Holz, for example, takes offense at an article that basically consists of four paragraphs. In the first, there is - admittedly - harsh criticism of Merkel's in-house virologist Drosten. The second paragraph criticizes that experts with other views are suppressed by the mainstream. The third paragraph then quotes a virologist who actually believes that PCR tests for corona are inconclusive. And in the fourth paragraph, it is again deplored that such voices are muted. Dr. Holz is unequivocal. "The article contains statements related to the Covid-19 pandemic that suggest a breach of journalistic due diligence." And he goes on to write: "We would therefore like to ask you to adjust the contributions and to inform us by March 1st whether and in what respect you have adjusted the articles or for what reasons you have refrained from doing so." But that's not all. He makes clear: "If the adjustment or comment is not made by the deadline, we will initiate formal administrative proceedings in a timely manner." And that's not all, either, because, "Please note that the above content is only an example. We therefore ask you to review and adjust your entire offer, otherwise a formal administrative procedure will be initiated in a timely manner." What madness! They go completely nuts. An article with criticism of Drosten and quotations of a scientist with deviating opinion must be adapted on state instruction, otherwise prompt formal administrative procedures threaten. This threat is worthy of any totalitarian dictatorship. For a free country without censorship, this culture of intimidation is nothing but an oath of disclosure, a disgrace. It leaves one speechless. Dr. Holz, listen carefully! I'm going to take this personally, I'm going to fight it out, against you. Together with all the citizens who want to inform themselves freely. We will stand up, otherwise our free democratic basic order will die. We will not let that happen.

from hm

Sources/Links: The new censorship authority https://multipolar-magazin.de/?locale=en
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-2Y4E_vWLE&feature=youtu.be