A network of far-right, often English-speaking activists has established a foothold in the German online space via Reddit, using it to push messages which support the anti-immigrant Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party.

While its following is small, the network represents a possible insertion point for fake news and disinformation into the German public discourse just months before the country’s election, in which Chancellor Angela Merkel’s policy on immigration and refugees is one of the most sensitive topics.

The subreddit

“Welcome and rules” (Source: /r/die_alternative / Reddit)

The subreddit in question is called /r/die_alternative. According to its own welcome section, which is in German, it is “the unofficial AfD subreddit…for AfD supporters. We are not politically correct.”

Its rules, also in German, ban racism, anti-Semitism, Nazi symbols, spam and trolling, and state that “this sub is ONLY for Frauke supporters”— a reference to former AfD leader Frauke Petry (rule 11).

Rules 6 and 7 state that English and German links should be headlined in the respective languages, while Rule 9 states that new “centipedes” must assimilate. The rules insist, “We are not connected to the AfD campaign!”

As of June 8, the subreddit’s most recent content was almost exclusively German-language. The main themes were posts on AfD policies, politics, and reports on migrant crimes.