When Hate Joins the Game: Extremism in Digital Gaming Spaces

PRIF researchers Linda Schlegel, Lars Wiegold, and Constantin Winkler, who are part of the RadiGaMe project, participated in the launch of the research report “(Rechts-)Extremismus und Online-Games” (“(Right-wing) Extremism and Online Games”) on December 10. The report deals with extremism, radicalization prevention, and youth media protection in digital gaming spaces. It was commissioned by the Bavarian State Office for New Media (BLM) and the Bavarian State Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Affairs and conducted by modus | zad.

During the launch event, Linda Schlegel, Lars Wiegold, and Constantin Winkler, together with Vivienne Ohlenforst, presented key findings from the report and then discussed them with experts from academia, media regulation, and the gaming industry. The three PRIF researchers supported the work on the research report in addition to their work at PRIF. In a subsequent discussion, digital gaming spaces were addressed as places of social interaction. Finally, scientists and practitioners engaged in a panel discussion on ideas and approaches to counter extremism in gaming. The aim of the event was to collaborate on developing practical solutions.

The research report contributes significantly to combating toxic communication cultures and extremism online. Since the right-wing terrorist attacks in Halle (Saale) and Christchurch in 2019, discussions about possible links between right-wing extremism and gaming have intensified. The debate has also grown in the international context. The research report critically examines the possible influence of gaming content on radicalization processes. It also highlights the opportunities for prevention and intervention against extremism offered by the gaming sector and outlines new opportunities for radicalization prevention, political education, democracy education, youth media protection, and media education.

Further information on the research report can be found on the modus | zad website.