taz criticizes Axel Springer for awarding Peter Thiel

Published Jul 20, 02:01 PM UTC

The German newspaper taz reports that US tech billionaire Peter Thiel, known for apocalyptic views and criticism of traditional media, will receive the Axel Springer Award on September 24, 2026. The article criticizes Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner for honoring Thiel, who has called the UN the 'Antichrist' and sees himself as a 'Katechon' delaying the apocalypse. Thiel's declared opponents include critical journalism and traditional media, which he and his associates label as part of a 'Distributed Idea Suppression Complex' (DISC). The laudatory speech will be given by CBS News chief Bari Weiss. The article notes that previous recipients include Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Sam Altman, and argues that Springer is using traditional media to spread destruction akin to the AfD's tactics, aiming for tech fascism or fascism respectively. taz, a reader-owned publication, presents this as a critical analysis of the award decision.

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