NetzDG on Twitter: A Social Network Analysis of Stakeholders in Public Discourse About Platform Regulation in Germany

This paper examines the Twitter debate about the German anti-hate-speech law, the Netzwerkdurchsetzungsgesetz (NetzDG). Public discourse on this law has been contentious, with opponents cautioning against the risk of censorship and supporters emphasizing that NetzDG is necessary to protect democracy. Tweets provide valuable insights into the stakeholders, topics, and communicative practices that have shaped this discussion about platform regulation and free speech. Our research investigates the most retweeted accounts mentioning NetzDG and considers their influence on the discussion. It reveals the existence of two clusters with strong political identities: one connected to the right-wing party Alternative für Deutschland and one linked to the liberal Freie Demokratische Partei. A third cluster consists of media and technology stakeholders. Key takeaways are the significant role played by “alternative” right-wing media and specialized IT websites in some clusters and the central position of legal experts in all groups.