German politician Franziska Brandmann experiences a lot of hate and threats on social media. Her start-up So Done helps those affected to filter out punishable online comments, using AI.
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00:00You piece of trash.
00:03You c**t of a human. You are bringing this country to ruin.
00:08That's two examples of the kind of hate Brandtmann receives on social media.
00:12But put up with it? No longer.
00:14She's the chair of the Young Liberals, the youth wing of the German Liberal Party.
00:19Three years ago, she took a public stand against sexism.
00:22What followed was a barrage of insults and threats online.
00:27Franziska Brandtmann wanted to fight back.
00:30So she and two friends founded the start-up So Done.
00:36We started the company because I wanted to protect myself.
00:39And my friends said, we'll manage.
00:41You shouldn't be exposed to this.
00:43Nobody should have to put up with this.
00:48One of those friends was lawyer and co-founder Alexander Brockmeyer.
00:52He helped train the AI software to find legally relevant comments.
00:55The software then searches the social media platform X
00:58for potentially actionable hate comments.
01:03First of all, a rough selection is made.
01:06Then it's legally examined and presented to the client.
01:09The client can then decide for themselves, do they want this pursued?
01:13Do they feel violated? Or are they fine with it?
01:16And when they have made their decision,
01:18we go to the state prosecutor and file a criminal complaint.
01:23Franziska Brandtmann and So Done have one goal.
01:26To put an end to hate speech.
01:29In Germany, politicians like the Green Party's Robert Habeck
01:33or activist Daniela Sepperi are already endorsing the start-up
01:37and its associated law firms.
01:39It's a glimmer of hope.
01:44We're having an impact.
01:46And we can tell because people are being convicted for their crimes.
01:51They might even apologize for the statements they have made.
01:54And victims no longer feel that when they post something,
01:58they are totally at the mercy of everything that comes next.
02:05In just two years, So Done has initiated over 8,000 cases.
02:09All to put an end to online hate speech.