Far-right German rappers TikTok hate speech probe reveals extremist propaganda, antisemitism, and disinformation slipping past platform moderation

Far-right German rappers TikTok hate speech investigation by AFP has uncovered a disturbing trend of extremist content, antisemitic rhetoric, and disinformation circulating freely on the popular social platform despite existing content rules.

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In one viral video, a rapper known as MaKss Damage — real name Julian Fritsch — invoked Adolf Hitler while linking the war in Gaza to antisemitic conspiracies.

The video featured his face morphing into a demonic caricature, declaring: “Back then it was Germany, today it’s Palestine,” while displaying a tattoo associated with far-right ideology.

The lyrics referenced long-debunked conspiracies about the September 11 attacks, suggesting Jewish complicity — a claim widely condemned as antisemitic disinformation.

After AFP contacted TikTok, the platform removed Fritsch’s accounts, but it did not respond to detailed questions about how it enforces hate speech regulations.

Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has identified Fritsch as a right-wing extremist, while the website of far-right party The Third Way lists him as a supporter.

Experts warn that far-right music culture has become a potent vehicle for radicalisation, particularly among younger audiences.

The surge of extremist rap coincides with growing support for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and a sharp rise in antisemitic crimes, according to Germany’s interior ministry.

Researchers describe a fast-evolving digital ecosystem of far-right performers who spread neo-Nazi narratives through rap music and livestreaming platforms.

Dr Thorsten Hindrichs, a musicologist at the University of Mainz, said the scene has become “significantly more radical in recent years”.

TikTok, Spotify, and Apple Music have faced scrutiny for hosting such content.

While Spotify says it removes music promoting violence or hate, analysts note that much of the content remains online by avoiding explicit incitement.

Experts say far-right rappers are increasingly weaving pro-Palestinian rhetoric into their messaging, revealing ideological contradictions within the European far right.

“At home, they vilify Islam as incompatible with Western values,” explained Bernhard Weidinger of Vienna’s Documentation Centre of Austrian Resistance. “Yet, in foreign policy, they sympathise with Palestinians, seeing them as victims of Jews and Americans.”

One rapper, E.Mar, has gained tens of thousands of followers on TikTok and Spotify for songs denouncing immigration policies and glorifying nationalist violence.

In one track, he declares: “We are ready for war here — politics makes you feel foreign in your own country.”

Researchers warn that the far-right’s growing presence on TikTok is not merely performative but a tool for recruitment and radicalisation.

Dr Markus Boesch of the University of Münster said TikTok’s live video feature creates a “private, intimate setting” where extremist narratives can be personalised and persuasive.

Many users are later redirected to encrypted channels on Telegram or Discord, where extremist groups operate with minimal oversight.

AFP found that many of these accounts are frequently banned but quickly reappear under new identities.

Users employ coded emojis — such as blue hearts for AfD support and lightning bolts symbolising the Nazi SS — to evade moderation.

Despite repeated takedowns, experts say extremist communities remain “nimble and resilient”, adapting faster than platforms can remove them.

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AFP, working with over 100 global fact-checking partners, continues to monitor and flag disinformation and hate speech content for TikTok and Meta, urging stronger enforcement mechanisms against online extremism.