Mathias Döpfner, CEO of the Axel Springer Group, attacked the global antisemitic wave in a hard-hitting speech and criticized media outlets that "fear social networks and their audiences" – thereby advancing, in his words, one-sided and sometimes dangerous discourse. "I am German and I am a Zionist," Döpfner declared. He stressed, "Antisemitism is not only a Jewish problem but a problem for all of humanity. Anti-Zionism is racism."
Döpfner said that "Israel was scapegoated even while it was under attack." He also criticized UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who said after October 7 that "events did not occur in a vacuum." "In other words," Döpfner said, "It's the Jews' fault again." He warned that "antisemitism has gone global – especially among young people."
In a direct attack on social media, Döpfner said TikTok "is one of the most dangerous propaganda machines in the world." He argued that after the war broke out, "there were 17 times more pro-Palestinian posts than pro-Israeli ones" on the platform, and warned of a generation of young people being systematically exposed to biased, inciting, and sometimes antisemitic content. He mentioned the US decision requiring TikTok to be sold to non-Chinese owners and said, "Europe must follow that example."
"Passionate about stoking antisemitic prejudices"
Döpfner did not spare pro-Palestinian activists around the world from criticism either. In a direct and unusual reference to Greta Thunberg, Döpfner said she "hardly cares about the carbon footprint anymore, but is increasingly passionate about stoking antisemitic prejudices." In his view, this is a prominent example of Western activism that has lost its moral compass and prefers popular narratives over truth.
Döpfner accused what he called "fashionable activism" of choosing its battles based on trends rather than values. "When Jews are attacked, we hear silence. But that is a choice – not a mistake. There are massive demonstrations about climate, but not about antisemitism," he said.
Döpfner also devoted part of his speech to criticizing international institutions. "It is not without irony that we are meeting here today in Geneva of all places to discuss this topic... Geneva is also the seat of the UN Human Rights Council, where Israel has been condemned by far the most over the years—more often than Syria, North Korea, Iran, and Venezuela combined. They would rather address alleged human rights violations in Iceland than the killings in dictatorships like Russia or China... This UN human rights council has become a human-rights-twisting council," he said.
"Too many media outlets are afraid to tell the truth"
Döpfner, as the head of the Axel Springer Group, also trained his fire on the press. "Too many media outlets are afraid – afraid of social media, afraid of their audiences, afraid to tell the truth," he said. The result, in his view, is shallow, one-sided, and sometimes dangerous coverage.
Döpfner had previously made a similarly forceful statement during a sharp confrontation with employees at Politico. In recordings published by Jewish Insider, he stressed that the media group holds clear, non-negotiable core principles – among them Israel's right to exist as a safe haven for Jews. He told employees, "If these principles do not appeal to you… I can only warmly recommend working for other companies."
In his closing remarks, Döpfner warned that "Germany, France, and England are not truly safe for Jews," and called on Europe to encourage Jewish immigration and naturalization in order to strengthen European society and its democratic values. "Remembering is important – but it does not stop hatred. If we do not act now, we will find ourselves once again saying 'never again,' without meaning."
