Which insurance helps with cyberbullying and online defamation in Germany?
In short
Which insurance helps with cyberbullying and online defamation in Germany? Mainly private cyber insurance with legal cover, which pays a lawyer and content removal. In a consumer test such plans cost EUR 127 to 149 a year. Ordinary legal expenses insurance often limits cases about personal rights. Reporting to the police and asking the platform to delete costs you nothing.
Premiums and costs around cyberbullying in Germany.
Example
Typical range
Private cyber insurance, all tested plans, one person
about EUR 7 to 212 a year
Cyber insurance with legal cover
about EUR 127 to 149 a year
Legal expenses insurance, private module only
from about EUR 69 a year
First consultation with a lawyer without insurance
at most EUR 190 plus VAT
As of October 2026.
Cyber prices from a 2024 consumer test, legal expenses prices from 2026 calculation examples,
the cap for a first consultation from Section 34 of the Lawyers' Fees Act.
How far legal plans cover personal rights and the amounts in the example are guide values from our
quoting practice.
Worked example
False claims about a teacher
A former acquaintance spreads lies about a teacher in a group with 400 members. She has a warning letter sent and sues for an injunction.
Lawyer for warning letter and injunction
about EUR 1,000 to 1,500
Court case if needed
about EUR 2,000 to 4,000
Cyber insurance with legal cover
around EUR 140 a year
With legal cover in her cyber plan she only pays the premium. Without it she carries the cost risk until the offender is ordered to pay and can pay.
Which insurance pays for cyberbullying
Private cyber policies help with cyberbullying in two ways: a service provider tries to have hurtful content removed, and plans with legal cover pay a lawyer up to court. Without the legal module, help is often thin.
Classic legal expenses insurance (Rechtsschutzversicherung) is no substitute. Many terms exclude action over personal rights or only pay for advice. Check whether injunctions and removal are named.
Policy
Helps with cyberbullying
Limit
Cyber policy with legal cover
lawyer, court, removal help
often only for online incidents
Cyber policy without legal cover
removal help, advice
no lawyer in court
Legal expenses insurance
partly advice
personal rights often excluded
Personal liability
only if you are accused
no help for victims
What is a criminal offence in online defamation
Insult, defamation and malicious falsehood are offences under Sections 185 to 187 of the Criminal Code (StGB), with higher penalties when spread online. Repeated unwanted contact, spreading images or posting degrading content in your name can be stalking under Section 238.
A criminal complaint is free and can be filed online. It brings no money and deletes nothing. For removal, injunctions and damages you need civil action, which costs lawyer and court fees.
What you can do right away
Save evidence with screenshots showing date, web address and profile name before you report anything. Then report the content through the platform's reporting tool.
If children are affected, involve the school first, and the police if there are threats. Insurance does not replace support for the person affected; it only pays for the legal side.
When a cyberbullying policy is not worth it
If you hardly use social media, you do not need separate protection. For a single case a first consultation with a lawyer is often cheaper than years of premiums.
A case that has already started cannot be insured. Cyber insurance against online defamation only pays for incidents after the start date, often after a waiting period.
Step by step
Save evidence with date and web address.
Report the content to the platform.
File a criminal complaint for threats or images.
Call your insurer and request removal help if covered.
Have a lawyer demand an injunction.
Checklist
Cyber plan with legal cover, not just removal help
Injunctions and removal explicitly covered
Family included if children are online
Waiting period and limit per case known
Psychological first aid in the plan checked
Common mistakes
Deleting posts or blocking the offender before saving evidence
Assuming ordinary legal expenses insurance is enough
Hitting back publicly and risking your own liability
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Is cyberbullying a crime in Germany?
There is no single offence, but insult, defamation, malicious falsehood and stalking are crimes.
Does household contents insurance help with cyberbullying?
Some household policies pay for phishing.
Whether they pay a lawyer or removal for bullying is in the terms.
Does the insurance guarantee removal?
No.
The service providers try, but there is no guarantee of success.
Does the insurance also help my child?
If the plan covers the family, yes.
Check legal cover for minors.
Will I get money from the offender?
Only if a court awards it and the offender can pay.