How fake news shaped the debate about refugees in Germany
In 2015, the war in Syria and unrest in neighboring countries drove hundreds of thousands to flee to Europe. The then-Chancellor Angela Merkel responded with her famous phrase: "We will succeed," referring to the integration policy. However, alongside the "culture of welcome," a wave of disinformation and racist narratives emerged, particularly the false stereotype of the "foreign criminal." Events such as the New Year's Eve assaults in Cologne in 2015/2016 increased suspicions, and soon the nationality of the suspects was mentioned more and more in criminal reports, affecting public opinion.
One of the most prominent examples was in 2016 with the case of 13-year-old Lisa, who falsely claimed she was kidnapped and raped by refugees. The story spread like wildfire and was exploited by Russian media and officials as a propaganda tool against Germany. Later, the police proved that the story was fabricated, but it had already sparked widespread protests and fueled hostility against refugees. The same thing happened in 2025 with the Mannheim attack, when fake reports accused a man of immigrant origins, despite the perpetrator being German.
Allegations of animal abuse have also been used as an emotional weapon in misinformation. In 2015, false rumors spread that refugees had slaughtered horses near Schwerin or tortured cats in Hildesheim. However, the police and environmental activists debunked these claims, confirming that the injuries were natural and not the result of torture. Experts warn that such fake news spreads easily because it provokes anger, fear, and a sense of helplessness, emotions that are exploited by far-right groups.
Over the years, misleading claims have not only been limited to the internet, but have also been repeated by politicians. In 2023, Friedrich Merz falsely claimed that rejected asylum seekers receive faster medical appointments and more dental treatments than German citizens. However, the truth is that refugees only received emergency medical care during the first 18 months of their stay. Misleading narratives like 'open borders' or alleged benefits for refugees continue to influence public debate.
Disinformation also aims to undermine the credibility of positive news. In 2025, the young Syrian, Mohamed Al-Mohammed, received widespread praise after helping thwart a knife attack at Hamburg Central Station. But just hours later, conspiracy theorists posted fake AI-generated images to question his existence, accusing major media outlets like Der Spiegel of fabricating the story. Experts confirm that such false news lives long because it is linked to existing fears, finds fertile ground in public discussions, and spreads quickly through social media.
From Syrian refugees in 2015 to Ukrainian refugees today, fabricated news about financial rewards or special privileges continues to spread widely. Experts emphasize that the strongest weapon against misinformation is media awareness: verifying sources, questioning surprising stories, and not sharing what is not based on evidence. Without vigilance, false news will continue to dominate the discussion about refugees for years to come.