“Advice Compass on Conspiracy Thinking” launches

...The nationwide contact point "Advice Compass Conspiracy Thinking" is launching today. It is open to all those affected and those seeking advice. The advice center is part of a project jointly funded and commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) and the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Home Affairs (BMI), which has been running since March 2024 as part of the federal program "Live Democracy!" The project is carried out by the Violence Prevention Network, the Amadeu Antonio Foundation and modus - Center for Applied Deradicalization Research.

Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser: “Conspiracy theories are accompanied by lies and disinformation. They are spread deliberately to divide our society and destroy trust in independent science, free media or democratic institutions. Conspiracy theories can lead to extremist ideologies and drive perpetrators to commit crimes and acts of violence. Anti-Semitic conspiracy theories are spread particularly often.

Usually, people in the immediate environment, such as family, friends or school, are the first to notice when conspiracy theories are spread. An open dialogue on equal terms often seems impossible because the other person is not open to arguments. The establishment of the nationwide advice center is therefore an important building block in the holistic fight against extremism and disinformation."