Weizenbaum Report 2026: The Resilience of Democracy (netzpolitik.org)

• Public perception of violence against leaders is rising.
• Violence drives mobilization but discourages institutional trust.
• Digital disinformation acts as a primary barrier to civic debate.

"The 2026 Weizenbaum Report highlights a critical intersection between public perception of violence against politicians and democratic participation. While awareness of systemic threats drives citizen mobilization through protests, the proliferation of digital hate speech and disinformation creates a chilling effect on constructive discourse. The study suggests that the erosion of safe digital spaces is fundamentally altering how citizens engage with political processes, posing a persistent challenge to democratic resilience across European societies."