NEWS FROM BERLIN
TikTok content moderators strike in Berlin: “We trained your AI—now pay us!”
Workers at TikTok’s Berlin headquarters went on strike on 23 July, in order to protest the company’s refusal to negotiate conditions of an announced mass firing of 150 content moderators. The layoffs come as part of the social media platform’s plan to shutter its Trust and Safety Department and shift critical moderation work to AI and external providers. Workers rallied under the banner: “We trained your machines—pay us what we deserve!” The union demands severance payments equal to three years’ salary per employee and a 12-month extension of the notice period. Source: uniglobalunion
Two-thirds of trans people in Berlin report experiences of violence
Trans people are disproportionately affected by discrimination, exclusion, and violence. This is the result of a study conducted by Camino on behalf of the Berlin Senate. According to the study, two-thirds of the trans people surveyed reported having been affected by transphobic violence within the past five years. Almost half said they had experienced assaults in the year prior to the survey. The study also shows that transphobic violence most often occurs in public spaces—on streets, squares, or on public transportation. The study also sees the need for action in the healthcare sector, comprising training and continuing education. Source: rbb
CSD: “Never silent again”
“It’s the most important Pride in decades.” That was the message at the opening of the 47th Christopher Street Day (CSD) in Berlin on Saturday, 26 July. The motto of this year’s CSD was “Never silent again,” referring to the rising number of anti-queer attacks, and it is a “strong reminder that queer rights are not a given,” as said by the Senator for Diversity and Social Affairs, Cansel Kiziltepe (SPD). CSD lacked support this year, especially from the Bundestag administration. 40 young neo-Nazis attempted to disturb the CSD event, but failed. Source: taz
Berlin Senate expects increase in number of homeless people in the coming years
The Berlin Senate expects the number of homeless people to increase by almost 60% by the end of the decade—to more than 85,600, according to a response published by the Senate Social Administration to an inquiry from the Green Party faction in the House of Representatives. The report shows that more than 53,600 people were accommodated by the districts in January of 2025. Three years ago, the figure was just under 26,000 people. A so-called demand forecast from early March anticipates a further increase. According to this, more than 55,400 people are expected to need accommodation in Berlin’s districts by the end of the current year. Source: rbb
Berlin accused of handing out German passports too easily
For years, prospective German citizens in Berlin found themselves at a loss. Naturalisation appointments were nearly impossible to secure, with a huge backlog of cases. However, the Berlin’s State Office for Naturalisation (LEA) began processing applications at scale in 2023. Now, the federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CDU) accuses Berlin of handing out passports on the cheap and inflating naturalisation targets because of the digitalized process. In 2024, LEA processed 21,802 cases, and, in the first half of 2025, another 20,000 were already completed. Source: theberliner
NEWS FROM GERMANY
SPD wants to fine German landlords for overcharging rent
Germany’s Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) stated that her party will establish an expert commission to evaluate how the rent brake can be strengthened to better protect tenants. The idea of fining landlords who overcharge rent has already been written into the CDU/CSU-SPD’s coalition agreement. The government also plans to regulate rents for furnished apartments for the first time and establish advice centres for people living in shared housing (WGs). The expert commission will be composed of justice experts, academics, representatives from tenant and landlord associations, as well as the German Association of Cities. The group will present its findings by December 31, 2026. Source: iamexpat
Refugee Council condemns deportation of Yazidi family to Iraq
A Yazidi family from Lychen was deported to Iraq despite a court ruling against their obligation to leave the country. Now authorities are arguing about the information they had at the time of the deportation and defending their actions. In view of the genocide of Iraqi Yazidis in 2014, the rejection of the asylum application is considered inexplicable, as pointed out by Kirstin Neumann from the Council of Refugees. “The mere fact that the family are Kurdish Yazidis from northern Iraq should not have led to this rejection. After all, Germany has recognized the genocide of the Yazidis as such and also said that we have a special responsibility there.” Source: rbb
Reiche calls for Germans to work “more and longer”
Federal Minister of the Economy Katherina Reiche (CDU) is calling on citizens to work more and longer. “It cannot work in the long run that we only work two-thirds of our adult lives and spend one-third in retirement,” the CDU politician told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. “Demographic change and rising life expectancy make it inevitable: working life must be extended.” Reiche also called for an end to “incentives for early retirement” and for more “incentives to work longer.” Criticism of these statements came from the CDU’s social wing as well as the Social Association of Germany (SoVD), among others. Source: n-tv