The German Government has set up a new advisory office aimed at supporting those affected by conspiracy narratives, misinformation and disinformation.
Announced in Berlin on February 27, the Advisory Compass Conspiracy Thinking initiative was backed by the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs and the Interior Ministry.
Outgoing interior minister Nancy Faeser of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) warned that conspiracy narratives were “deliberately spread to divide society and erode trust in independent science, free media, and democratic institutions”.
While acknowledging that free debate was essential in a democracy, she argued such narratives “can fuel extremist ideologies and incite criminal or violent acts, with antisemitic conspiracy theories being particularly widespread”.
Faeser noted that family members, friends and colleagues were often the first to notice when someone was influenced by conspiracy thinking.
She claimed: “Open dialogue at eye level often seems impossible because the other person is not open to arguments.”
Faeser described the new advisory office as “an important building block in the broader fight against extremism and disinformation”.
Outgoing family minister Lisa Paus of the Greens echoed those concerns. She said conspiracy narratives were not only harmful to democracy but also placed a significant strain on personal relationships.
“They can lead to radicalisation and violence but also foster anti-democratic attitudes beyond extremist circles,” she warned.
The new office will offer initial guidance and, if necessary, refer individuals to specialised counselling services.
“This way, we provide concrete support to those affected and their loved ones while also strengthening prevention efforts,” Paus said.
Start der bundesweiten Anlaufstelle „Beratungskompass Verschwörungsdenken“: Betroffene und ihr Umfeld erhalten online und telefonisch eine vertrauliche Beratung im Themenfeld Verschwörungsdenken. @VPNderad @AmadeuAntonio @BMFSFJ pic.twitter.com/PtXThbfw1V
— Bundesministerium des Innern und für Heimat (@BMI_Bund) February 27, 2025
The government has also launched an information website explaining what it described as “conspiracy ideologies”.
According to the site, such thinking was characterised by deep mistrust of institutions and the belief that secret, malevolent forces manipulated world events.
These narratives, it argued, adapted dynamically to real-world events, incorporating new “evidence” to sustain their claims.
Examples cited included 9/11 and Covid conspiracy theories. The website warned that such ideologies could promote populist and extremist ideas, fostering distrust in science, experts and democratic institutions.
It distinguished between what it called healthy scepticism and conspiracy thinking, arguing that the latter did not seek rational debate or evidence-based refutation but instead presented unverifiable and ideologically driven narratives.
The site also claimed that people from all walks of life could be drawn into conspiracy ideologies, particularly in times of personal crisis or alienation.
Signs of concern, it said, included social isolation, obsessive sharing of conspiracy content, rejection of mainstream journalism and belief in hidden elites controlling world affairs.
In more extreme cases, it said, individuals may express hostility or even violent fantasies toward those they perceive as part of the conspiracy.
German non-profit news group Correctiv has apparently backtracked on its report about a “conspiratorial” AfD meeting where several politicians and others allegedly discussed the deportation of two million migrants from Germany. https://t.co/NY6To0rlI1
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) January 29, 2024
The government also provided a comprehensive list of counselling centres.
Partners of the project were the Violence Prevention Network, the Amadeu Antonio Foundation and modus|zad – Centre for Applied Deradicalisation Research.
The Amadeu Antonio Foundation is an organisation that, according to its own statement, was dedicated to the fight against right-wing extremism, racism and anti-Semitism.
It was founded in 1998 by Anetta Kahane, a former Ministry for State Security (Stasi) employee, according to news outlet Nius.
In response to the government’s move, the hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party said on X on February 27: “It is inconceivable what this government, which is still in power, is spending citizens’ tax money on [the facility].
“And even more inconceivable that [Christian Democratic Union leader Friedrich] Merz has still not clearly distanced himself from wanting to leave the Ministry of the Interior to Faeser and the SPD.”
The project was part of “Live Democracy!”, a federal funding programme for NGOs and civil society initiatives that claim to promote democracy and protect minorities — while receiving substantial federal subsidies.
Germany’s left-green government has reportedly been using taxpayers’ money to fund the organisations behind a wave of mass protests against the Christian Democratic Union and Alternative for Germany. https://t.co/nRRUDAuo09
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) February 11, 2025
