Hate in Gaming and on Discord: How to Report It

Racist remarks in voice chat, strangers threatening you in the lobby, a Discord server ganging up on you. Many people shrug it off as “just part of gaming”. It is not. Hate in gaming and on Discord can be a criminal offence in Germany just like anywhere else online. This article shows how to secure evidence, report it properly and when a police report makes sense.

Is hate in gaming a criminal offence?

Games do not have their own set of laws. Whatever is an offence in a comment under a video is also an offence in in-game chat, voice chat or on Discord. The main provisions of the German Criminal Code (StGB) are:

• Insult (§ 185 StGB): degrading statements about a person, written or spoken.
• Threat (§ 241 StGB): for example announcing that they will find you and hurt you.
• Incitement to hatred (Volksverhetzung, § 130 StGB): stirring up hatred against groups, for example because of origin or religion, where it can disturb public peace.
• Symbols of unconstitutional organisations (§ 86a StGB): such as swastikas used as sprays, profile pictures or server names.
• Doxxing (§ 126a StGB): if your address or phone number is posted to put you at risk.
• Stalking (§ 238 StGB): if someone repeatedly pursues you across games and platforms.
• Sending unsolicited pornography (§ 184 StGB).

Ordinary trash talk such as “you’re so bad” is not an offence. Where harsh criticism ends and insult begins is explained in Insult or Freedom of Expression?. Whether a specific remark is a criminal offence is for the police or a law firm to assess.

In acute danger? If someone threatens you with violence in a concrete way, or knows your address and says they will come round: call the police on 110, the emergency number in Germany.

How do you secure evidence in a game?

A lot disappears quickly in games: the match ends, the chat is gone, the player name gets changed. So save right away:

• Screenshots of the text chat showing the player name and the message.
• The game, platform, server or region and, if shown, the match ID.
• Date and time. Write them down as well, because in-game screenshots often do not show the time.
• The profile. The link to the player profile on the platform, for example on Steam or in the console app. Display names can change, the profile link is more reliable.
• Replays and clips of the gameplay, if the game saves them.
• Witnesses. Note who was on your team or in the lobby.

General tips on screenshots, links and logs are in our guide to securing evidence of online hate.

Are you allowed to record voice chat?

Be careful. Under § 201 StGB, anyone who records another person’s privately spoken words without authorisation may commit an offence themselves. Whether a voice chat counts as private depends on the case, for example on how many people are listening and who has access. So do not simply record secretly.

Safer options:

• Right afterwards, write down exactly what was said, by whom and when.
• Ask teammates to confirm briefly in writing what they heard.
• Use the report function of the game or console. Some providers have their own features for reporting voice incidents directly to their moderation team.

How do you secure evidence on Discord?

On Discord, users can change their names at any time. What stays unique are the IDs, long strings of numbers for users, servers and messages. Here is how to get them:

1. Turn on Developer Mode. On a computer you find it in the settings under “Advanced”. In the mobile app, the option sits in a different place in the settings depending on the version.
2. Copy the user ID. Right-click the name or profile picture, or long-press on mobile, then choose “Copy ID”.
3. Copy the server ID. Right-click the server icon, then “Copy ID”.
4. Copy the message link. Through the menu on the message. The link leads straight to that message.

Menu labels may change with updates. Save the IDs and links in a note, together with screenshots that show the server name, channel, message and time. For direct messages: screenshots of the whole conversation and the other person’s user ID.

How do you report hate in a game and on Discord?

In the game

Almost every online game has a report function, usually in the scoreboard, the player profile or after the match. Choose the fitting category, such as hate speech, harassment or threats. You can also report players through the platform you play on, meaning the console or launcher.

On Discord

• Report the message: right-click or long-press the message, then “Report”.
• Server moderation: many servers have moderators or a reporting channel. They can delete messages and ban users.
• Discord itself: in serious cases, or if the server does nothing, use the Trust & Safety form in Discord’s help centre. Include the IDs and message links.

Platforms in the EU are subject to the Digital Services Act. It requires them to handle reports of illegal content carefully and to tell you their decision.

When should you go to the police?

Whenever you are threatened, your personal data is published or hatred is stirred up against groups. You can also report insults. You can do this at any police station or online through the online police station (Onlinewache) of your federal state. Include the IDs, links, player names and times.

Watch the deadline: insults are generally only prosecuted if you file a request for prosecution (Strafantrag). You have three months for this, from when you learn of the act and the offender. What this means in detail is explained in Criminal Complaint Deadlines Explained.

How can you protect yourself while gaming?

• Mute and block once you have saved what you need.
• Restrict direct messages, for example to friends only, or not from members of large servers.
• Limit voice chat to your team or friends if the game allows it.
• Leave servers where hate is tolerated.
• When streaming, do not show anything that reveals where you live or go to school.

When it is about more than insults

If an adult messages you, gives you gifts and wants to move to a private chat, these may be warning signs of cybergrooming. Read Recognising Cybergrooming: Warning Signs and What to Do. If you want to talk to someone: the Nummer gegen Kummer helpline is on 116 111 (Monday to Saturday, 2 to 8 pm, in German), and at juuuport young people counsel young people online. The Telefonseelsorge crisis line is available around the clock on 0800 111 0 111 (in German).

Frequently asked questions

Is an insult in voice chat a criminal offence?

Yes, it can be. § 185 StGB applies to spoken words just as it does to written ones. Proving it is often harder, so take notes immediately and write down who witnessed it.

Is a police report worth it if I only know the player name?

Often, yes. The police can request data from providers. The more unique details you have, such as the profile link, user ID or match ID, the better.

What is the Discord ID good for?

Names can change, the ID stays the same. With it, Discord or the police can identify an account clearly, even if the person renames it.

Do I have to put up with trash talk?

Not every harsh remark is a criminal offence. You can still mute, block and report it if it breaks the rules of the game or server.

You can also report it through our form and upload your screenshots, IDs and links there. If you say yes, your report goes automatically to a suitable cooperating law firm (Kooperationskanzlei) as soon as one is available. If there is no suitable firm right now, you get an email with other places to turn to straight away. Deadlines keep running: you can always file a request for prosecution (Strafantrag) with the police yourself. The legal assessment comes from the law firm, not from us.