Mastodawn

https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/19/study-of-tiktok-x-for-you-feeds-in-germany-finds-far-right-political-bias-ahead-of-federal-elections/

An analysis of political bias on algorithmic recommendations on social media in Germany shows a huge far right bias. In percentages-

78% on Tik Tok.
64% on Twitter.
59% on Meta.

This is in a country where support for the far right is at about 20%.

#NoAfD

Study of TikTok, X 'For You' feeds in Germany finds far-right political bias ahead of federal elections | TechCrunch

Recommendation algorithms operated by social media giants TikTok and X have shown evidence of substantial far-right political bias in Germany ahead of a

TechCrunch

"The interference in the German elections by Elon Musk and Trump's Washington was no less radical and outrageous than that of Moscow."

Friedrich Merz,
Germany's new chancellor.

#GermanElections

Still not a single word from Elon Musk about the German elections. Maybe it's the fact that the AfD who have been polling around 20% for a year, came in on around 20% in spite of all his efforts to manipulate the results.

He's not as influential as he thinks.

#GermanElections
#NoAfD

Justin Macleod Feb 23, 2025

@ProjectFearlessness I have been waiting for this result with a mixture of dread and hope all evening. I could tip you for being the first to bring the wonderful news to me! Thank you! 🕺😌

Ericka Simone Feb 23, 2025

@ProjectFearlessness so he lost?

ProjectFearlessness Feb 24, 2025

@ErickaSimone
Well, the AfD got 20% of the vote so we can't really call it a win. But they were polling on 20% for a long time before Musk got involved. His influence in Germany is not influential.

patrislav ♾️ #RIPNatenom Feb 24, 2025

@ProjectFearlessness Ditto for Vance.
@ErickaSimone

Ericka Simone Feb 24, 2025

@patrislav @ProjectFearlessness good. I’m glad it didn’t work over there. Hope they keep that up.

Ericka Simone Feb 24, 2025

@ProjectFearlessness yeah that jump was noticeable, and center right doesn’t make me feel any better. But I’m glad to hear everyone hates Musk and Vance.

Justin Macleod Feb 23, 2025

@ProjectFearlessness But what was the result?

@JustinMac84
We're still waiting for the final results but the exit polls are usually quite good in Germany. CDU are in a clear first place.

Exit poll for ARD1

CDU/CSU 29%
AfD 19.5%
SPD 16%
Greens 13.5%
The Left 8.5%
FDP 4.9%
BSW 4.7%

Alexander Knochel Feb 23, 2025

@ProjectFearlessness As far as random political ads on websites go, I only ever get AfD.

@quantensalat
That's what a lot of people find. This study is only looking at content rather than advertising on social media, so it would be interesting to look at that too. How the platforms decide which ads to place to which people seems to be something of a trade secret.

Bina Femaroll Feb 23, 2025

@ProjectFearlessness Hopefully, the European Union/DSA will show sharpest teeth.

@knopi Yes, I am still hopeful the EU will clamp down on social media disinformation, but when ? It's too late for Germany now, who have to go to the polls knowing the results will be distorted.

Bina Femaroll Feb 23, 2025

@ProjectFearlessness Thanks from my heart for your words! I fear the slow processes of enforcement. This is the major problem of our democracy. In general. The EU is doing an excellent job in setting up a juridical framework: DORA, RED, CRA, NIS2, and the GDPR etc. But we lose in bringing the regulations into effectiveness. And I suspect, it will be worse with a conservative government in Germany. The right wing turn sets us into a state of fear, and we are not really aware of it.

@knopi
I'm not sure if this helps, but you are not alone in Germany. Online election manipulation has been happening everywhere for years. The German one has just been so overt and relentless that maybe it will be a wake up call.

Bina Femaroll Feb 23, 2025

@ProjectFearlessness Well, the most important thing: a global problem, but with you we are us!

@knopi
Yes, it looks like 4 out of 5 Germans are not susceptible to election interference. That's a good starting point.

Thierry Van Kerm Feb 23, 2025

@ProjectFearlessness It's time to leave these unsocial media

cobalt Feb 23, 2025

@ProjectFearlessness Id seen similar studies but not particular to Germany. What a horrible situation there to amplify the Far Right with both pressures from Musk and other influence from outside the country AND the social media bias being far higher than I thought. @lavaeolus

@ProjectFearlessness this doesn't account the systemic #ElectionInterference by #Russia and #Billionaires like #Musk, including classics like #Catfishing, #Sabotage of vehicles, and more or less unsuccessful #Disinfo campaigns.

But what pisses me and most folks off that I can see are the #normalization tactics by #PublicBroadcasting like @tagesschau and @ZDF by excessively platforming #NSAfD and their #racist as well as #facist takes that are diametrally incompatible not only with their own programming rules but the tennants of the #constitution of #Germany in general!

#NSAfDverbot #NSAfDverbotJetzt #NSAfDverbotSofort

@ProjectFearlessness we barely missed a #NSAfD + #CDU / #CSU (enabler) coalition!
https://infosec.space/@kkarhan/114057707185046288

Kevin Karhan :verified: (@[email protected])

Attached: 2 images Wer sonst sieht hier die Probleme? - Mangelnde #Entnazifizierung - #Christofaschismus - #Gerontokratie Dass eine #NSAfD+#CDU / #CSU - Regierung *nur knapp verunmöglicht wurde* ist extrem traurig, denn ich hatte mehr #Verfassungstreue erwartet! https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundestagswahl_2025

Infosec.Space

ProjectFearlessness Feb 24, 2025

@kkarhan
Forgive me, I'm not German so I am having a hard time understanding this point. Merz has said over and over again that he wouldn't ever form a government with AfD. So why are so many Germans convinced he would break this promise?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_L%C3%BCbcke

@ProjectFearlessness because #Merz is a known #liar, #christofacist, #Bankster and #opportunist to the point that if he said the sun shines, I'd not believe him but go outside ti check for myself and at nighttime without moon I'd check with #DLR!

Merz in specific and #CDU / #CSU in general CANNOT BE TRUSTED AT ALL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!

They are a party of #reactionary #gerontocrats who solely exist due to #GrannyFarming and #corruption aka. #BigDonors!

The last "man of honor" at CDU was #WaltherLübcke, and Merz tacitly pisses on his grave by pushing the same #racist shit his murderer did!

And Merz is eager to normalize #NSAfD and their #facism because for a #millionaire & bankster like him, that seems the most #profitable!

Walter Lübcke - Wikipedia

@ProjectFearlessness and don't even get me started on #corruption and #criminal #incompetence at #CDU / #CSU:
https://norden.social/@dirk_wagner_/114055245876963021

Dirk Wagner :mastodon: (@[email protected])

Nee, Herr #Spahn, wir haben nicht die gleiche Problemwahrnehmung. Sie sehen die Probleme bei #Geflüchteten und Menschen, die #Bürgergeld empfangen. Ich sehe die Probleme bei #Berufspolitikern wie Ihnen, die als #Gesundheitsminister mal eben ein paar #Milliarden für Masken verballern-ohne jegliche Konsequenzen. #miosga

norden.social

Strypey Feb 24, 2025

@ProjectFearlessness
> social media in Germany shows a huge far right bias. In percentages- 78% on Tik Tok. 64% on Twitter.

Intriguing that Trick Tok shows a stronger bias in that direction than Xitter. I wouldn't have expected that.

@happyborg

Lady HamLan Feb 23, 2025

@ProjectFearlessness This is exactly what they did in the US. Russia misinformation and Musk's money pushing misinformation. Sane parties need to get smart and combat this better, or we will all be under authoritarian regimes.