D: Majority in favour of undercover investigations at livestock farms

Over 80 percent of the population in Germany supports the making of undercover recordings at agricultural operations in order to expose animal suffering and abuses. This is shown by the results of a representative Emnid survey commissioned by animal rights organisations and conducted last week.

85% in favour of stronger controls

The survey found that the majority of German society (85.3%) is in favour of stronger inspections at agricultural operations. In addition, 82% of respondents consider the covert creation and subsequent dissemination of footage to expose animal suffering and abuses to be justified. The results stand in stark contrast to recent statements by the CDU and FDP, which are calling for harsher punishment of activists who secretly enter agricultural premises to make undercover recordings — even when it is only through such recordings that cases of animal cruelty are brought to light.

Courts back animal rights activists

From a legal standpoint, too, the demands of the CDU and FDP are untenable. Contrary to what has been claimed, the covert filming of videos at agricultural operations does not constitute the criminal offence of burglary, but at most amounts to trespassing. Furthermore, landmark rulings were recently handed down by the Federal Court of Justice and the Naumburg Higher Regional Court in favour of animal rights activists. Both courts ruled in support of the creation and dissemination of the footage.

There have been and continue to be repeated cases of illegal conditions and animal cruelty in German facilities. Despite legal regulations and inspections, these cases are rarely reported. Responsible oversight bodies and authorities often only took action after the publication of undercover investigations. More on animal rights.