Comment by mike_hearn
6 days ago
It's regulated in such a way that it's absolutely allowed to use it to criticize the political opposition, which is why Der Spiegel can not only use it but show it combined with the German flag:
https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_pr...
... but CJ Hopkins is prosecuted repeatedly for using it on the cover of a book that criticized COVID policies (no double jeopardy rule there!)
That is allowed use, Germans actually have fairy sane laws. Swastika is heavily regulated and that regulation allows this particular use.
So basically you are agreeing with the GP that it's regulated?
Yes but that's irrelevant to my point. If it were universally offensive it'd be just banned entirely, but in fact it's allowed to be plastered everywhere as long as you're using it in ways those in power approve of (to criticise their political opposition).
The symbol itself, therefore, isn't offensive. Otherwise Germans would be up in arms at their government for allowing it.