German Prosecutors Tell ’60 Minutes’ That An Insult Is A Crime. JD Vance Blasts ‘Orwellian’ Law.

Vice President JD Vance blasted a trio of German prosecutors who said during an interview with “60 Minutes” that insults — both in person and online — are illegal in their country.

The “60 Minutes” segment that aired on Sunday reported on Germany’s enforcement of its “hate speech” law, which has been around since 2017, and showed police raiding German citizens’ homes and confiscating electronics over social media posts. During the interview, all three German state prosecutors told host Sharyn Alfonsi that insulting someone in public and online is criminal. Those who break the law are usually punished with a stiff fine, but repeat offenders could be thrown in jail.

“The fine could be even higher if you insult someone in the internet,” said state prosecutor Dr. Matthäus Fink, adding, “Because in internet, it stays there. If we are talking face to face, you insult me, I insult you, okay. Finish. But if you’re in the internet, if I insult you or a politician …”

“It sticks around forever,” Alfonsi said to Fink’s agreement.

State prosecutor Svenja Meininghaus added that reposting a lie — which could include gossip or fake quotes — is also a criminal action in Germany “because the reader can’t distinguish whether you just invented this or just reposted it.”

Along with fining offenders of the hate speech law, judges sometimes confiscate their phones.

“How do they react when you take their phones from them?” Alfonsi asked.

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“They are shocked,” replied Frank-Michael Laue as the prosecutors laughed.

Vance, who spoke in Munich last week and warned Europe against censorship, blasted the “Orwellian” German hate speech law on Monday.

“Insulting someone is not a crime, and criminalizing speech is going to put real strain on European-US relationships,” the vice president posted on X. “This is Orwellian, and everyone in Europe and the US must reject this lunacy.”

Insulting someone is not a crime, and criminalizing speech is going to put real strain on European-US relationships.

This is Orwellian, and everyone in Europe and the US must reject this lunacy. https://t.co/WZSifyDWMr

— JD Vance (@JDVance) February 17, 2025

During his Friday speech at the Munich Security Conference, Vance ripped European countries that have cracked down on free speech.

“I believe deeply that there is no security if you’re afraid of the voices, the opinions, and the conscience that guide your very own people,” Vance said. “Europe faces many challenges, but the crisis this continent faces right now, the crisis, I believe we all face together, is one of our own making. If you’re running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you. Nor, for that matter, is there anything that you can do for the American people who elected me and elected President Trump.”