84% of Germans believe they cannot speak freely in their country without fear of retaliation
A recent survey conducted by the research institute INSA reveals that 84% of Germans believe people self-censor out of fear of retaliation. The study, which measures citizens’ perceptions of freedom of expression in the country, also shows that only 9% consider that they can express themselves freely without fear of negative consequences. The data reflects widespread concern about the state of democratic discourse in Germany, which spans the entire political spectrum.
The most significant finding of the survey is that the feeling of censorship is not limited to a single ideological bloc. Although it is more pronounced among voters of Alternative for Germany (AfD), with 92% saying they feel they cannot speak freely, it is also shared by 77% of Green Party supporters. This clearly shows that the concern crosses ideological lines.
But it’s not just a matter of perception. More than half of the participants (54%) say they have personally experienced situations where they could not express themselves freely, six points higher than in the same survey conducted eight months ago.
Among AfD voters, the sovereignist party that traditional parties are trying to outlaw through judicial means, 76% feel censored. Also, 69% of supporters of Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (nationalist left) and 65% of Die Linke voters, the far left, report feeling censored. By contrast, supporters of the SPD (42%) and the Greens (41%) say they feel less restricted. In the center-right, CDU/CSU and FDP supporters are evenly split at 50%.
The debate, however, has already moved beyond statistical margins and entered the daily lives of Germans, with cases that cause scandal because of their symbolic weight. Such is the case of Stefan Niehoff, a retiree whose home was raided by police after sharing a meme calling then-Economy Minister Robert Habeck a “professional imbecile.” What would have once been a trivial gesture on social media has now become the subject of legal prosecution
For many, the Niehoff case represents a turning point, a warning that certain opinions—especially conservative or critical of those in power—are no longer tolerated even as satire or dissent.
INSA founder Hermann Binkert warns that the issue could take on a political dimension comparable to the 2015 migration crisis or the management of COVID-19. “Politics, the media, and society as a whole should take this seriously,” he points out.
Meanwhile, Germany is sliding down a dangerous slope where fear replaces debate. And when citizens must remain silent to survive, democracy ceases to exist—even if it still keeps its name.
