Verfassungsschutz-Analyse: Radikalisierung: BfV sieht Blackbox-Algorithmen als Problem

The Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (BfV) has identified black-box algorithms of internet platforms as a significant issue in the radicalization of young people, alongside psychological factors. These factors include social isolation, personal difficulties, and mental health issues. The BfV explains that these opaque algorithms of platform operators lead users toward controversy and high interaction content, gradually pushing them into an echo chamber where increasingly radical and emotionally charged content is disseminated.

The repeated exposure to such content leads extremist ideas to become increasingly normalized and internalized. It is noteworthy that individuals do not always radicalize exclusively within one ideology but often draw from a mix of anti-democratic ideas. Extremist groups utilize various online communication spaces, including websites, social media, gaming platforms, imageboards, and messenger services, with certain platforms preferred by extremist groups of different ideologies.

For instance, the BfV cites an international Telegram group called "Brenton Fanclub" inspired by the Christchurch terrorist attack in New Zealand in 2019. The group used extremist propaganda and broadcasted the attack live on the internet. The BfV also highlights the use of platforms like Telegram, Instagram, TikTok, and gaming platforms like Steam and Discord by right-wing extremist groups, while left-wing extremist groups primarily use mainstream social media platforms for propaganda and event organization.

Islamist extremist groups, targeting primarily Muslims in Germany, are active on classical social media platforms. The BfV also mentions that extremist groups increasingly rely on artificial intelligence to create deepfakes and disseminate propaganda materials.