Exploring the German Speaking Online Far Right Ecosystem Driving Hate Speech

Understanding the Mainstreaming of the Far Right through Online Ecosystems 

The recent electoral successes of the far right globally are largely driven by online discourse. Hate speech and extremist narratives are increasingly spreading across a wide variety of ‘alternative’ sites and social media platforms such as TikTok, Telegram, and Odysee. Taking advantage of the differences in the platforms’ content moderation policies, far right actors consciously exploit negative emotions, spread misinformation, and boost their content through sophisticated cross-platform strategies in order to mainstream their ideologies. 

The RECO_DAR Project closed significant knowledge gaps and uncovered new trends by mapping the online ecosystem of the German-speaking far right. Using innovative research tools, the project investigated how hate speech evolves and circulates in this interconnected digital landscape, uncovering strategies employed by far right actors to bypass content moderation and reach mainstream audiences. It furthermore communicates cutting edge insights on argumentation, narrative and visual strategies online, as well as on recruitment strategies and networks.  Uncovering a shift in the far right’s strategy, the findings highlight the conscious prioritisation of mainstream platforms over fringe sites, questioning previous assumptions about recruitment pipelines. 

This webinar will provide insights into the argumentation patterns, narratives, recruitment and visual strategies used by extremist actors to legitimise their views, manipulate audiences, and erode trust in democratic systems. It is particularly relevant for practitioners, policymakers, researchers, educators, and anyone working to safeguard people from online extremism. 

What to Expect 

• A closer look at how extremist narratives are constructed and spread across platforms like TikTok, Telegram and alternative sites in German-speaking countries 

• Insights into cross-platform coordination strategies. 

• Actionable recommendations to counteract these tactics. 

For further details, refer to the Policy Brief prepared by the RECO_DAR team, which will be introduced during the session. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge to combat hate speech and extremism online. 

Reserve your spot now!