Investigation Reveals Whatsapp and Discord as New Hotspots for Extremist Recruitment

Far-right German-speaking rappers are reportedly violating hate speech rules by spreading extremist ideologies and disinformation across platforms like TikTok, according to an investigation.

One such artist, MaKss Damage — real name Julian Fritsch — used the Gaza conflict in his lyrics to justify Adolf Hitler’s antisemitic views, even morphing his image into a demonic figure in one video. In his song, he rapped, “Back then it was Germany, today it’s Palestine,” while displaying a tattoo commonly associated with far-right groups. He also echoed baseless antisemitic conspiracy theories linking Jews to the September 11 attacks.

TikTok removed all accounts linked to Fritsch after the investigation but did not respond to specific inquiries about its hate speech enforcement. German intelligence agencies have identified Fritsch as a right-wing extremist, while a far-right political group, The Third Way, has listed him as a supporter.

Experts say Fritsch is part of a growing circle of far-right rappers promoting neo-Nazi rhetoric online. Despite platform policies, many of their videos remain accessible.

Analysts note that some of these rappers attempt to link their ideologies to pro-Palestinian causes, reflecting a contradiction within the European far-right movement — opposing Islam domestically while expressing sympathy for Palestinians abroad.

Another artist, E.Mar, known for his nationalist lyrics, boasts tens of thousands of Spotify listeners and millions of TikTok views. His songs criticize Germany’s immigration policies and depict a nation “ready for war.”

Researchers warn that TikTok’s live-streaming features may be enabling extremist recruitment by allowing real-time interaction between creators and followers. Some extremists reportedly direct their audiences to less regulated platforms like Telegram and Discord, where hate speech and radicalization efforts often continue unchecked.