Displaying hate and agitation on the internet
You can file a criminal complaint regardless of whether you have been injured, can testify to a criminal offence or are uninvolved. Fast processing is promoted by selecting the federal state in which the incident took place. You can make a report informally, by telephone, online and at the police station, either anonymously or by providing your contact details. The online report is an additional service.
Reporting a criminal offence is at the heart of the process. A distinction is made between different offence groups. In order to ensure the fastest possible processing, please select the offence group "Hate and incitement to hatred online".
If you file a report, you are a witness in the criminal proceedings. Regardless of your online report, it may be necessary to summon you to the relevant police station as part of the further processing of the report, for example in order to be able to interview you in person.
It is also possible to attach photos, receipts or documents to the report as electronic attachments. This option should be used in particular to send evidence (proof of purchase, receipts or pictures of stolen items, damaged items or screenshots of screen content) to the police with the report.
Responsible authority
Police stations
Details
Prerequisite
Anyone who has knowledge of a criminal offence can file a complaint. You do not have to fulfil any specific requirements.
Procedure
A report can be made or submitted online, in writing, by telephone or verbally.
If you wish to submit the advert online:
There are several steps involved in filing a report online.
You can file a criminal complaint via the Internet portal. This can involve various offences.
You call up the Internet Watch via a central URL. The federal state responsible for processing the offence is selected via the location of the incident. After selecting the form for reporting hate speech online, you can enter basic personal details (e.g. personal details, mobile phone number, email address). You can then enter data on the crime scene, the time of the offence, the perpetrator and the event itself. The registration is accompanied by legal instructions (witness or accused person instructions as well as the requirement to file a criminal complaint and the notice of discontinuation).
It is possible to submit documents such as proof of purchase, receipts and/or images such as screenshots, images of damage or stolen items with the report. Especially in the case of hate and hate speech online, it is advisable to take screenshots of the posts you wish to report, as content can subsequently be changed or deleted. Please also ensure that relevant information about the publication (date, time, user name, etc.) and the context of the post are recorded in order to ensure traceable documentation.
Once the report has been submitted, you will receive an e-mail with a case number and the contact details of the office responsible for processing the report.
The relevant police department will receive and review the report. If you report a criminal offence that was committed outside Germany or in another federal state, the prosecuting authority will forward the report to the competent authority.
Only if there are no grounds for investigation will the investigation be closed by the public prosecutor's office. The chances of success vary depending on the type of offence. Basically, the more information you provide, the better the chances of the police finding the offender.
Anyone who knowingly and falsely suspects a person is committing a criminal offence. The law provides for a fine or a prison sentence of up to five years for this offence.
Deadlines
There is no deadline to comply with. However, you should observe the respective limitation periods, as criminal offences normally expire after a certain period of time.
Required documents
Evidence (proof of purchase, receipts or pictures), if applicable
Costs
None
Processing time
After receipt of the online advert, you will receive an email confirmation with a process number. The processing time depends on various factors. It is not possible to set a time limit.
Miscellaneous
If you file a complaint, you are generally a witness in the criminal proceedings. It may be necessary to summon you to the relevant police station as part of the further processing of your complaint, for example in order to be able to interview you personally as a witness.
Anyone who is aware of a criminal offence but does not report it may be liable to prosecution. No special formal requirements apply. Caution is required if the offence is suspected. Defamation and false accusations are punishable offences, and the person who makes the report must expect legal action to be taken against them. Crimes such as murder, robbery, war crimes and treason must be reported.
Criminal charges cannot be withdrawn. You should therefore think carefully about whether you want to press charges. According to the principle of legality, the authorities are then obliged to investigate.
Legal basis
Strafprozessordnung (StPO):
- § 158 Strafanzeige; Strafantrag
Release note
Machine generated, based on the German release by: Innenministerium Baden-Württemberg, 01.08.2025