During a meeting with science students, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz openly derided the principle of freedom of speech and defended the need for the state to “protect” citizens from American-style libertarianism on the internet.
\n\nWhat would have typically been an unremarkable photo-op for the increasingly unpopular German leader drew condemnation over a major gaffe (read: accidentally revealing his true feelings) as Merz held court at the Chancellery with the winners of the ‘Youth Researchers’ competition on Tuesday.
\n\nWhen pressed by a young student on whether his plans to end online anonymity would impede personal liberties, Chancellor Merz reacted indignantly, declaring: “Please, no one comes to me with free speech… That has nothing to do with free speech anymore.”
\n\nThe supposedly conservative politician — who made sure to use English when repeating the phrase “free speech” as if to mock the very concept — said that he rejects the “libertarian understanding of politics,” which he claimed emanates from the United States.
\n\nMerz said that his vision of a liberal society was rather one in which the state steps in to protect citizens “from false information, from personal degradation, from discrimination” on the internet.
\n\nThe Chancellor complained that in the “analogue world”…
Original source: https://www.breitbart.com/tech/
