The Effect of Content Moderation on Online and Offline Hate: Evidence from Germany's NetzDG

75 Pages Posted: 11 Oct 2022 Last revised: 24 Feb 2024

See all articles by Rafael Jiménez Durán

Rafael Jiménez Durán

Bocconi University - Department of Economics; University of Chicago

Karsten Müller

National University of Singapore (NUS) - Department of Finance

Carlo Schwarz

Bocconi University - Department of Economics

Date Written: February 23, 2024

Abstract

We study the online and offline effects of content moderation on social media using the introduction of Germany’s "Network Enforcement Act" (NetzDG), which fines social media platforms failing to remove hateful posts. We show that the law transformed social media discourse: posts became less hateful, refugee-related content less inflammatory, and the use of moderated platforms increased. The NetzDG also had offline effects by reducing anti-refugee hate crimes by 1% for every standard deviation in exposure to far-right social media use. The law reduced hate crimes partly by making it harder for perpetrators to coordinate, without changing attitudes toward refugees.

Keywords: Social Media, NetzDG, Content Moderation, Hate Crime, Refugees, Germany

JEL Classification: L82, J15, O38

Suggested Citation

Jiménez Durán, Rafael and Müller, Karsten and Schwarz, Carlo, The Effect of Content Moderation on Online and Offline Hate: Evidence from Germany's NetzDG (February 23, 2024). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4230296 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4230296

Rafael Jiménez Durán

Bocconi University - Department of Economics ( email )

Via Gobbi 5
Milan, 20136
Italy

University of Chicago ( email )

1101 East 58th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
United States

Karsten Müller

National University of Singapore (NUS) - Department of Finance ( email )

Mochtar Riady Building
15 Kent Ridge Drive
Singapore, 119245
Singapore

Carlo Schwarz (Contact Author)

Bocconi University - Department of Economics ( email )

Via Gobbi 5
Milan, 20136
Italy

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