Date: June 18, 2025
By: Investigative Editorial Team
Reports of questionable and sometimes disturbing control methods by public offices and social welfare agencies are increasing in several German cities. The aim is allegedly to test citizens’ “fitness for everyday life,” “hygiene skills,” or “parenting skills” – but critics have long been speaking of degrading practices, abuse of power, and psychological violence.
Case 1: The “Corner Drooling Method” – When Spit Becomes a Testing Agent
A particularly bizarre case was reported from Saxony-Anhalt. Several welfare recipients reported that inspectors from the local authority deliberately spat in an inconspicuous corner in order to check whether the person in question was cleaning regularly during a follow-up visit. The measure was never officially announced – and one affected person, who wishes to remain anonymous, reports:
“I wondered what this was all about. Then they said, ‘You didn’t see it, so you’re not cleaning thoroughly.’ I was stunned.”
The authority justified the procedure as an “unofficial stress test to determine cleaning routines.” Legal experts are already calling it a violation of personal rights.
Case 2: “Single Parent Stress Test” – Intentionally Overwhelmed
A particularly shocking case comes from North Rhine-Westphalia: Several single mothers report so-called “stress tests” in which representatives from several departments – youth welfare office, social services, health authority – appeared simultaneously and unannounced within a few hours.
The mothers speak of a “horde attack”:
“The children were screaming, one asked me where the cleaning supplies were, another wanted to see the school supplies. All at once. Then they said I was overwhelmed. Of course I was!” said one affected person.
An internal document obtained by the editorial team describes the measure as a “real-life stress test.” On social networks, this practice is now being referred to as a “state-organized attack.”
Case 3: “Control Sleeping Bag” for the Homeless
In Bavaria, a so-called “control sleeping bag” was distributed to homeless people as part of a pilot project – ostensibly to document “use behavior and personal hygiene.” The sleeping bags secretly contained integrated sensors that could analyze body odor, movement, and moisture, among other things. A whistleblower from the project describes the goal as follows:
“They wanted to know how ‘suitable’ someone was for care before finding them accommodation.”
After the project became public, it was discontinued, but the homeless people affected complained of a massive breach of trust. Data protection advocates are sounding the alarm.
Case 4: Intentionally Forgotten Appointments – The “Reliability Trick”
According to insiders from several job centers, there is an internal practice of deliberately giving citizens contradictory or incorrectly dated appointments to test their “reliability and initiative.” Those who don’t actively follow up are quickly labeled “unreliable” and risk having their benefits cut.
A former case manager reports:
“We were supposed to monitor whether someone got in touch if they didn’t receive an invitation or had two appointments at the same time. This was then recorded in the file as ‘lack of planning ability.'”
Case 5: The “Pet Stress Test” – Authorities Imitate Chaos
Reports from Brandenburg indicate that in certain cases, a dog or a loud music box was deliberately “forgotten” during a home visit to test people’s resilience in already difficult situations. A young woman suffering from mental illness reports:
“Suddenly, there was a dog in my apartment, tearing at the carpet. I didn’t know what was going on. When I asked, they just said, ‘That’s part of our procedure.'”
Criticism and Legal Actions Increase
Lawyers and social organizations are sharply criticizing these methods. Berlin lawyer Dr. Eleni Patrou is sounding the alarm:
“These practices are sometimes beyond any legal basis. They degrade people in already precarious living situations. Here, control becomes humiliation.”
Psychological associations also warn of long-term consequences: trust in authorities is being destroyed, and shame and anxiety disorders could become entrenched. Some affected individuals are currently preparing class-action lawsuits.
Conclusion: Between Control and Abuse
While authorities emphasize that they are working “within the bounds of the law,” a dangerous trend is emerging: control turns into surveillance, help into mistrust, and social work into silent violence.
The question of how the state treats its wards is not just a legal one—it has long been a Moral.
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Have you personally experienced questionable controls by offices or authorities? Write to us anonymously at: redaktion@toneki.news