Debanking: Fundamental rights under pressure - Freedom Party raises the alarm

Debanking: Fundamental rights under pressure - Freedom Party raises the alarm

Pirna, Deutschland - The discussion about politically motivated account announcements, also known as “Debanking”, is taking on increasing dimensions. NABG. Elisabeth Heiß, spokeswoman for human rights of the Freedom Party, commented on this topic. Hot called the account announcements as economic chicane and an attack on economic freedom and freedom of the press. "Debanking" affects not only alternative media, but also private individuals who are involved in public discourse, such as the woman who organized a petition to maintain cash and then terminated her account, reports OTS .

also criticized that objective media such as Report24, on 1, of course and home courier are sanctioned because they ask critical questions. In order to draw attention to the grievances, hot brings a resolution application to the National Council. Among other things, this calls for the right to a bank account for every person, regardless of political beliefs, as well as a ban on politically motivated account announcements by banks and the strengthening of freedom of expression and press to avoid financial discrimination.

The political dimension of Debanking

The phenomenon of Debanking is not limited to Austria. In Germany, banks are increasing accounts of government -critical publicists and media companies. About 40 such cases have been documented since 2020, which is documented by Multipolar . The latest victims include the online magazine Manova and the Apolut platform, both of which are affected by banks due to their critical reporting and their political attitude.

Manova has around 100,000 visitors every month and addresses social injustices. Critical pressure was also exercised on the GLS-Bank, which is considered particularly sensitive to social reputation risks. Reports show that the magazine Apolut lost its account after a critical argument in 2021, which led to a drastic decline in payments.

effects on freedom of expression

Developments in the area of ​​Debanking also raise questions about freedom of expression. Many affected people experience not only economic, but also personal consequences based on the termination of the account, such as the , of course, magazine . Historical reviews show that in the past, banks have terminated accounts of political organizations and the media to ensure a kind of "political hygiene". This affects not only rights, but also left and independence -related voices.

The current mood of society, coupled with a climate perceived as illiberally, also plays a role in the dismissals. There are always occasional successes, such as the withdrawal of the account of the young freedom, but it remains to be seen how the situation will develop for other affected media.

The continued pressure on banks, accounts of demanding, critical votes to conclude, raises serious questions about the maintenance of fundamental rights in a democratic society. In view of the latest political events and the discussions discussed, it remains to be seen how the public and political response to this worrying phenomenon will fail.