Table of Contents
- 0.1 No author, just “With you, for you”
- 0.2 Fines of up to 50,000 euros possible
- 0.3 Habeck changes advertising for reporting office
- 1 **Given the blurring lines between private and public personas online, should all digital content produced by elected officials be subject to the same transparency standards regardless of the platform used (e.g., personal social media versus official campaign websites)?**
Green Party candidate Robert Habeck broadcasts his “kitchen table conversations” on the YouTube platform. However, without an imprint, as media lawyer Joachim Steinhöfel complains. The Greens react after a letter to the media regulator.
Mail for two German media authorities: The Berlin-Brandenburg Media Authority (mabb) and the Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein Media Authority (MA HSH) have received a letter from Joachim Steinhöfel’s law firm.
In it, the lawyer draws attention to a misconduct by Robert Habeck’s (Greens) campaign team, which could result in a fine. In the letter dated November 25th, which is available to WELT, Steinhöfel points out that Habeck runs his own channel on YouTube, on which his new citizen dialogue format “Kitchen Table Conversations” is also presented.
The channel youtube.com@Habeck1 currently has around 21,000 subscribers. 24 videos are already online, including the first one Habeck’s “kitchen table conversation” with a teacher, who is introduced as “Isabell” (WELT reported). The video has over 90,000 views after just one day.
The problem, however: The channel, active since October 2nd, initially had no legal notice, as is actually required. In other words, the legally required information about those responsible under press law was missing. Instead, the page limited itself to the cryptic phrase “With you, for you.”
The Hamburg media lawyer’s office criticized this. “These are legal requirements that even 15-year-old influencers are able to take into account, and therefore challenges that you should be up to if you consider yourself capable of wanting to become Federal Chancellor,” it says Write.
Fines of up to 50,000 euros possible
Steinhöfel points out that Habeck, as his party’s top candidate, does not appear in the video format as a private citizen, but as a functionary. “This is not a purely private channel, but rather one with which the operator, as a member of the Bundestag and top candidate of Alliance90/The Greens, is promoting his federal election campaign,” it says. The law provides for a fine of up to 50,000 euros.
WELT has asked the two media outlets addressed for statements, but these are not yet available.
On Monday evening, however, the operator of the YouTube channel reacted: an imprint was added. The address is now the federal office of the Green Party.
Habeck changes advertising for reporting office
And Steinhöfel was successful in another matter: the lawyer sent a warning to Habeck and North Rhine-Westphalia Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU).
Both politicians advertised the reporting office’s services on the website of the private-sector start-up “So Done”. The company alerts politicians to potential online insults and threats. In Steinhöfel’s opinion, Habeck and Wüst violated their offices’ duty of neutrality with their advertising.
After the warning, the two politicians’ statements on the “So Done” website were changed or removed. Habeck is now no longer listed as Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, but as a member of the Bundestag. Instead of a photo, the rights of which belonged to his ministry, a different image is shown. The quote from Wüst was immediately removed entirely; “To avoid possible misunderstandings,” as it is said.
Note: The article was updated after the imprint was added to the YouTube channel.
DW
## Interview: Transparency & Online Campaigning in the Digital Age
**Introduction:**
Welcome to today’s discussion on the intersection of politics, media law, and online campaigning. We’re joined by two distinguished guests to unpack the recent controversy surrounding Green Party candidate Robert Habeck’s YouTube channel and its lack of legal notice.
**Guests:**
* **Dr. Anna Schmidt**: Media Law Expert & Professor
* **Jan Berger**: Political Analyst & Digital Communication Specialist
**Section 1: The Importance of Imprints in the Digital Age:**
* **Interviewer:** Dr. Schmidt, let’s start with the basics. Why are imprints so crucial in the digital age, especially for political figures using platforms like YouTube?
* **Interviewer:** Mr. Berger, how do you see this situation in the context of broader trends in online political campaigning? Is there a growing need for stricter regulations?
**Section 2: Blurred Lines Between Private Citizen and Public Figure:**
* **Interviewer:** Dr. Schmidt, the article argues that Habeck’s YouTube channel should be treated differently than a purely private channel since he’s a prominent politician. Do you agree with this distinction? Where do you draw the line?
* **Interviewer:** Mr. Berger, how does this case highlight the challenges politicians face in navigating the informality of online platforms while adhering to formal legal requirements?
**Section 3: The Role of Media Regulation and Public Scrutiny:**
* **Interviewer:** Dr. Schmidt, what role should media regulators play in addressing these types of issues? Is a complaints-driven approach sufficient, or are there alternative measures that could be more effective?
* **Interviewer:** Mr. Berger, how important is public awareness and scrutiny in holding political figures accountable for their online actions? What can citizens do to ensure transparency?
**Section 4: Looking Ahead: Campaigning in a Data-Driven World:**
* **Interviewer:** Dr. Schmidt, beyond legal notices, what other ethical considerations emerge when politicians utilize data and personalized targeting in their online campaigns?
* **Interviewer:** Mr. Berger, how do you envision online campaigning evolving in the future? What are some potential solutions for striking a balance between effective communication, citizen privacy, and democratic accountability?
**Conclusion:**
The case of Robert Habeck’s YouTube channel raises important questions about the evolving landscape of online political campaigning. By engaging in open discussions about transparency, accountability, and ethical practices, we can strive to ensure a more informed and responsible digital democracy.
Thank you to our guests for sharing their valuable insights.
