SWR research – How right-wing extremists use online games to radicalize children

This information can be particularly shocking for parents: In the course of research, the team from the SWR YouTube format “Vollbild” (www.youtube.com/vollbild) found out that right-wing extremists apparently use isolated online games to incite children and young people influence – and radicalize. According to the research, young players were deliberately addressed in order to lure them into various groups and chats. In these forums, according to tagesschau.de, swastikas, racist memes and even instructions for bombs are shared.

Right-wing extremists use online platforms to influence children

The Federal Ministry of the Interior also commented on the subject and, when asked by SWR, explained that the right-wing extremists were being observed as they networked in order to gain new members. They also used well-known online gaming platforms. The massively multiplayer online game “Roblox” is particularly popular, which – according to the company – is used by 60 million players. With this title, users can, among other things, design their own game worlds, create characters and chat with one another.

Terrorist attacks to reenact

But this is exactly what is being used to spread right-wing extremist content, according to the Federal Ministry of the Interior. In the “full screen” research, game worlds were found in which terrorist attacks could be reenacted – for example the attack on the synagogue in Halle, where a right-wing extremist assassin killed two people in 2019. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution announced that they were aware of other similar game worlds.

Due to the fact that there is no phone in online games, players like to use other channels to communicate. The online service Discord is particularly popular. But even then, the “full screen” team made a frightening discovery: Nazi slogans and swastikas were found in various chats.

Chat group looks like right-wing extremist terrorist cell

In addition, a young man has to answer to the Potsdam district court. The Attorney General’s office accuses him of having prepared a criminal offense endangering the state. He is said to have planned a right-wing extremist attack. And that “after he had previously exchanged views with like-minded people in several chat channels,” says the Attorney General’s Office. In addition, he is said to have researched the construction of a bomb online and even tested explosive devices. According to “Full Screen” research, the accused is said to have been part of the “Totenwaffe Division” chat group, which looks like a right-wing extremist terrorist cell. Propaganda posters with death lists were also published here.

“These were all uniforms from the Third Reich”

In an interview with “Full Screen”, the young man’s father also said: “You can ban things and install some blocks – we’ve tried everything – but they’re just smarter. They bypass it all.” Those were all uniforms from the Third Reich.”

Upon request, the team of the massively multiplayer online games also commented on the subject to “full screen”. They are “aware that there is still work to be done as extremist groups use a variety of tactics to circumvent the rules across all platforms.” Right-wing extremist content should be made aware of – “including the blocking of users and the closure of servers”.