The Media Ethics Committee has held extra meetings to handle the situation, writes Media Ombudsman Caspar Opitz in his annual report.
The dramatic increase is explained, among other things, by the generally harsh tone of public debate.
“Polarization, supported by aggressive language on social media, is a strong contributing factor,” Opitz writes.
Chatbots, increased scrutiny by the media and increased visibility for the Media Ombudsman are also cited as contributing factors to the increase.
