This episode features Prof. Frauke Rostalski, Professor of Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Philosophy of Law and Comparative Law at the University of Cologne, and a member of the German Ethics Council.
First (03:02), the discussion turns to the draft bill aimed at strengthening civil and criminal law protection against digital violence. What gaps in criminal liability does the draft bill close?
Subsequently (10:24), reference is made to areas where freedom of expression is coming under increasing pressure. Rostalski describes her observation of a “vulnerability of discourse” and, from minute 15:54, reports on the climate of discourse at universities.
The discussion then (17:48) turns to criminal law as a means of defence for a robust democracy, for example through the withdrawal of the right to stand for election in cases of incitement to hatred. In this context, the discussion also turns (from 22:10) to the report by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifying the AfD as “confirmed right-wing extremist”.
The podcast concludes with a positive outlook on the discourse on freedom of expression.