Danger in the gaming: How extremists digitally recruit young people!

Danger in the gaming: How extremists digitally recruit young people!

gaming has developed into an important branch of industry that not only serves as entertainment, but also becomes increasingly a contact point for extremists. According to information from op-online use extremists specifically to address children and adolescents. This development ensures concerns about security authorities, especially in the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Interior.

At an upcoming interior ministerial conference in Bremerhaven, measures are to be discussed in order to counteract digital radicalization. Interior Minister Thomas Strobl said that groups such as right-wing extremists, Islamists and conspiracy ideologists are particularly active and try to build trust in young people through voice chats and private groups. The anonymity of these platforms and technical barriers make it difficult for the authorities to carry out interventions and to identify extremist content.

radicalization through digital platforms

Extremist actors find retreat rooms in certain gaming forums that they use to spread their views. The use of social media increases access to extremist content, which favors the radicalization of young users. According to a report by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution ( BFV ) X (formerly Twitter), Steam and especially Telegram, which is considered a central point of contact for these scenes, used to spread racist and anti -democratic propaganda.

Radicalization on the Internet often takes place via subtle messages and a specific aesthetics, combined with socially relevant topics. Online influencers and trolls play a crucial role in strategic communication and recruitment of new supporters. This digital culture has also led to frightening acts of violence, such as the attacks in Halle and Hanau, which illustrate the importance of the Internet as a radicalization area.

research and measures against radicalization

Part of the efforts to combat digital radicalization is the research project "Radigame", funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The project aims to analyze threats in the digital space and runs from 2023 to 2026. It is coordinated by the Center Technical and Society at the Technical University of Berlin, with other partners such as the Ludwigs-Maximilians-Universität Munich and the State Criminal Police Office Berlin ( Prif ).

The cooperation between security authorities, platform operators and youth and media protection institutions is considered crucial in order to develop effective proposals for action. These should not only analyze the recruitment strategies, but also include measures for better education and prevention. It turns out that the Internet acts as an engine for radicalization and is time to develop comprehensive strategies to combat this threat.