Threatening comments

Right-wing extremist channel Auf1 blocked from Facebook

Stefan Magnet is the founder of the station, which is classified as right-wing extremist.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/auf1.tv)

The Auf1 channel, which is classified as right-wing extremist in the report on the protection of the constitution, is no longer present on Facebook. The page was already blocked by the Meta Group on Tuesday, several media reported.

Auf1 saw the measure as a "blow against the freedom of the press", carried out by the "system". According to the "Standard", threatening comments against Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen accumulated on Auf1's Facebook page in October.

The founder of Auf1 is Stefan Magnet, who was once active in the now disbanded far-right "Bund freier Jugend" and published the book "Nach Corona: Warum die Globalisten scheitern werden und die Menschheit erwacht" at the end of 2020.

In 2021, he launched the online channel, which has repeatedly attracted attention for spreading conspiracy theories - for example in relation to the coronavirus pandemic or climate change.

"Serious violation"
Attempts to establish Auf1 on television have failed so far. For example, Auf1 broadcast many a programme on the Upper Austrian private broadcaster RTV without a license, which, according to the media authority KommAustria, constituted a "serious violation" of the Audiovisual Media Services Act and was prohibited.

In Germany, the broadcasting of Auf1 content also failed due to media regulators. The fact that Auf1 was able to report on the National Council elections from the parliamentary media center recently caused a stir. FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl also gave his first interview to the channel after the election.