German government joins the ‘Doxxing’ trend, uses Pro-Government journalist to reveal confidential information about influencers
The trend of doxxing—the practice of revealing personal information about anonymous users—has made its way to Germany. A journalist with close ties to the government used a public television platform to disclose confidential data about a dissident YouTuber who had maintained anonymity, sparking outrage and a heated debate about the ethical boundaries of journalism and the use of state-funded media.
The incident occurred during the show Neo Royale on ZDF, a publicly funded channel, where host Jan Böhmermann exposed the identity of the 29-year-old behind the YouTube channel Clownswelt. This channel, with more than 240,000 subscribers, critically analyzes progressive content from a patriotic perspective, using an avatar to remain anonymous. However, Böhmermann, his show’s team, and the media outlet Die Zeit conducted a detailed investigation, including voice analysis with experts, interviews with teachers and acquaintances, and even a visit to the YouTuber’s parents’ home to confront them about their son’s online activity.
The YouTuber faced a dramatic fallout after the episode aired on Friday, May 9, 2025. According to activist and X user Martin Sellner, who reported on the case, the young man was expelled from his metal band, where he played guitar as a hobby, and his name is now circulating on antifascist forums—effectively destroying any chance he had of becoming a civil servant, teacher, or entrepreneur. “They deliberately destroyed his middle-class life,” Sellner stated in his X thread, which has ignited a wide debate on social media.
Böhmermann’s show also mocked another content creator, Aron, who is currently serving a prison sentence for publishing pro-sovereignty videos on YouTube. Neo Royale has now become a weekly platform for defaming right-wing figures, particularly the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party, which Böhmermann frequently targets.
The backlash online was swift. Users like Florian (@fsibiza) harshly criticized both Böhmermann and ZDF, claiming they had “lost all humanity and empathy” and that the network “has taken a stand against a humane society.” Another user, @RJ148833, highlighted perceived double standards in the choice of targets: “They dox a right-winger: a blond, blue-eyed guy. They dox a left-winger: a porn addict with issues.” Others, like @kksreloaded, went so far as to call for help in investigating Böhmermann’s address, encouraging counterattacks.
