Heiko Maas

Maas was born on 19 September 1966 to a Catholic, middle class family in Saarlouis, a city near the French border that is named for Louis XIV of France. His father was a professional soldier who later became a manager at Saarlouis Body & Assembly, a car plant owned by Ford Germany, while his mother was a dressmaker.{{cite web|url=http://www.spd-saar.de/fileadmin/pdfs/2011/LPT11/Profile_Lavo.pdf |title=Im Profile Heiko Maas |publisher=SPD Saarland |year=2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217224035/http://www.spd-saar.de/fileadmin/pdfs/2011/LPT11/Profile_Lavo.pdf |archive-date=17 December 2013 }} He graduated from the gymnasium in 1987 and served his compulsory military service from 1987 to 1988; he thereafter worked for a year at Saarlouis Body & Assembly. From 1989 he studied law at Saarland University, and he passed his first state examination in 1993 and was called to the bar in 1996.{{cite web|url=http://www.munzinger.de/search/portrait/Heiko+Maas/0/22955.html|title=Heiko Maas|work=Munzinger|access-date=27 June 2013}}

Maas was first elected to the Saarland Parliament in the 1994 Saarland state election, under the mentorship of Oskar Lafontaine who would later (March 1999) leave the Social Democrats to found his own party.{{cite web|last=Furlong|first=Ray|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4248606.stm|title=German election diary: 15 Sep |work=BBC News |date=15 September 2005|access-date=27 June 2013}} He served as Minister of the Environment, Energy and Transport from 9 November 1998 to 29 September 1999 (Klimmt cabinet).

Maas led the SPD into the 2009 state election, in which his party only gained 24.5 percent, the party’s worst election result in the state.

Maas was an SPD delegate to the Federal Convention for the purpose of electing the President of Germany in 2010 and 2012.

After the 2012 state election, the SPD went into coalition with the CDU,{{cite web|author=Politik |url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/saarland-kramp-karrenbauer-als-ministerpraesidentin-wiedergewaehlt-a-832240.html |title=Saarland: Kramp-Karrenbauer als Ministerpräsidentin wiedergewählt|work=Spiegel|date=26 March 2012|access-date=27 June 2013}} which before that election had been governing the state in coalition with the Green Party and the Liberals.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17505712|title=Huge defeat for German Free Democrats in Saarland|work=BBC |date=25 March 2012|access-date=27 June 2013}} While the Social Democrats and Left had won enough seats to form a coalition, Maas ruled out such an alliance in favor of a coalition with the CDU led by incumbent Minister-President Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer.Brian Parkin and Tony Czuczka (26 March 2012), [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-25/merkel-s-cdu-wins-saarland-elections-zdf-exit-poll-shows.html Merkel’s Party Wins Saarland State in Show of Crisis Backing] Bloomberg News. As deputy minister-president, he took over responsibility for the economy,{{cite web|url=http://www.sr-online.de/sronline/nachrichten/politik_wirtschaft/geudinger_schleuse100.html |title=Schließungspläne für die Schleuse Güdingen? |work=SR-online |date=14 June 2013 |access-date=27 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627200403/http://www.sr-online.de/sronline/nachrichten/politik_wirtschaft/geudinger_schleuse100.html |archive-date=27 June 2013}} transport, and employment.{{cite web|url=https://www.welt.de/print/welt_kompakt/print_politik/article106281413/Politik-Kompakt-I.html|title=Politik Kompakt I - Nachrichten Print|work=Die Welt |date=6 February 2013|access-date=27 June 2013|archive-date=27 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627022104/https://www.welt.de/print/welt_kompakt/print_politik/article106281413/Politik-Kompakt-I.html|url-status=dead}}

Following the 2013 federal elections, Maas was part of the SPD team in the negotiations with the CDU/CSU on a coalition agreement; he was a member of the energy policy working group led by Peter Altmaier and Hannelore Kraft. On 17 December 2013, he was sworn in as the Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection in the third cabinet of Chancellor Angela Merkel,{{cite news|title=Merkel rival to take toughest job in new-look cabinet |url=http://m.france24.com/en/20131215-merkel-rival-take-toughest-job-new-look-cabinet/ |access-date=17 December 2013 |work=France24 |date=15 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217221433/http://m.france24.com/en/20131215-merkel-rival-take-toughest-job-new-look-cabinet/ |archive-date=17 December 2013}} succeeding Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger. He left his position of Deputy Minister-President of the Saarland and Minister of Economy, Labor, Energy and Transport he was holding since 9 May 2012.

Maas earned the nickname 'Prohibition Minister' by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung for his many unapproved legislative proposals.{{cite web | title=Ohne Ziegen: Verbotsminister Heiko Maas und seine willigen Helferinnen - Stützen der Gesellschaft | website=Stützen der Gesellschaft | date=2016-04-14 | url=http://blogs.faz.net/stuetzen/2016/04/14/ohne-ziegen-verbotsminister-heiko-maas-und-seine-willigen-helferinnen-6187/ | language=de | access-date=2016-04-14}}

In June 2017, Maas disclosed to the Bild newspaper that he was the recent recipient of an unprecedented number of death threats including a bullet casing in the mailbox of his private residence. He attributed the threats to dissatisfaction with current German immigration policy{{cite web|title=Far-right targets German justice minister with 'disgusting' death threats |series=News|url=http://www.dw.com/en/far-right-targets-german-justice-minister-with-disgusting-death-threats/a-19308052|website=DW.COM|publisher=Deutsche Welle|access-date=13 July 2017 |language=en|date=5 June 2017}} since the beginning of the 2015 European migrant crisis.

On September 25, 2018, at the United Nations, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas could be seen smirking alongside his colleagues at US President Donald Trump who accused Germany of becoming ‘totally dependent’ on Russian energy.https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2018/09/25/trump-accused-germany-becoming-totally-dependent-russian-energy-un-germans-just-smirked/

In December 2022, Maas resigned from Bundestag and announced his intention to leave national politics. He subsequently joined the Berlin office of law firm GSK Stockmann as partner.Marcus Jung (15 December 2022), [https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/heiko-maas-wechselt-in-kanzlei-gsk-stockmann-18535459.html Heiko Maas wechselt in Kanzlei GSK Stockmann] Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. In January 2023,[https://www.sr.de/sr/home/nachrichten/politik_wirtschaft/maas_praesident_verband_der_saarhuetten_102.html Heiko Maas ist neuer Saarhütten-Präsident] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304110205/https://www.sr.de/sr/home/nachrichten/politik_wirtschaft/maas_praesident_verband_der_saarhuetten_102.html |date=4 March 2023 }} Saarländischer Rundfunk, press release of 11 January 2023. he was also elected president of the Verband der Saarhütten,{{cite web | url=https://www.vds-stahl.de/vorstand-team/ | title=Vorstand & Team - Verband der Saarhütten }} a group representing employers in the Saarland steel industry.

• Federal Network Agency for Electricity, Gas, Telecommunications, Posts and Railway (BNetzA), Member of the Advisory Board (2012-2014)[https://www.bundesrat.de/SharedDocs/drucksachen/2014/0001-0100/46-14.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=3 Benennung eines Mitglieds für den Beirat der Bundesnetzagentur für Elektrizität, Gas, Telekommunikation, Post und Eisenbahnen] Bundesrat, document no. 46/14, 11 February 2014.

• KfW, Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Supervisory Directors (2018–2021)[https://www.kfw.de/KfW-Group/About-KfW/Vorstand-und-Gremien/Verwaltungsrat-und-seine-Aussch%C3%BCsse/ Board of Supervisory Directors and its Committees] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816142705/https://www.kfw.de/KfW-Group/About-KfW/Vorstand-und-Gremien/Verwaltungsrat-und-seine-Aussch%C3%BCsse/ |date=16 August 2017 }} KfW.
• RAG-Stiftung, Member of the Board of Trustees (2013–2017)
• SaarLB, Chairman of the Board of Directors
• Saarländische Investitionskreditbank (SIKB), Ex-Officio Member of the Supervisory Board (–2013)Ursula Scheer (15 January 2013), [https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/wirtschaftspolitik/politiker-in-aufsichtsraeten-gefaehrliche-aemter-ueberhaeufung-12026508.html Politiker in Aufsichtsräten: Gefährliche Ämter-Überhäufung] Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

• German Poland Institute, President (since 2023)[https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article248742936/Ehemaliger-Aussenminister-Heiko-Maas-neuer-Praesident-des-Deutschen-Polen-Instituts.html Heiko Maas neuer Präsident des Deutschen Polen-Instituts] Die Welt, 27 November 2023.
• Business Forum of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, Member of the Political Advisory Board (since 2020)[https://www.spd-wirtschaftsforum.de/news/neukonstituierung_politischer_beirat-20200701/ Bernd Westphal und Anke Rehlinger koordinieren neu konstituierten Politischen Beirat des SPD-Wirtschaftsforums] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420002356/https://www.spd-wirtschaftsforum.de/news/neukonstituierung_politischer_beirat-20200701/ |date=20 April 2022 }} Business Forum of the Social Democratic Party of Germany , press release of July 1, 2020.
• Aktion Deutschland Hilft (Germany's Relief Coalition), Ex-Officio Chairman of the Board of Trustees (2018–2021)[https://www.aktion-deutschland-hilft.de/de/wir-ueber-uns/vorstand-aufsichtsrat/ Board of Trustees]Aktion Deutschland Hilft.
• German Forum for Crime Prevention (DFK), Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Trustees (2013–2018)[http://www.deutscher-zukunftspreis.de/en/the-prize/board-trustees Board of Trustees] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420135902/http://www.deutscher-zukunftspreis.de/en/the-prize/board-trustees |date=20 April 2018 }} German Forum for Crime Prevention (DFK).
• Magnus Hirschfeld Foundation, Ex-Officio Chairman of the Board of Trustees (2013–2018)
• Saarländische Investitionskreditbank AG (SIKB), Chairman of the Supervisory Board
• Saarland University Hospital, Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board
• Völklingen Ironworks, Member of the Supervisory Board

File:Reuven Rivlin at a meeting with Heiko Maas, March 2018 (6381).jpg in Jerusalem in March 2018]]

File:Secretary Pompeo meets with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (30144686127).jpg in October 2018.]]

File:Lavrov, Maas, MSK 2019, MBK 4109.JPG on 15 February 2019]]

File:Iran’s FM Javad Zarif Meets German FM Heiko Maas 05.jpg on 10 June 2019]]

After taking office as foreign minister in 2018, Maas was markedly tougher than his immediate predecessors – Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Sigmar Gabriel – in his rhetoric and approach towards Russia. On his first day in office, he issued a frank warning about Russian “aggression” and chastised its leadership for “defining itself in antagonism to many in the west”.Tobias Buck (29 March 2018), [https://www.ft.com/content/caafe62c-2eb4-11e8-9b4b-bc4b9f08f381 German foreign minister Heiko Maas makes waves] Financial Times. Under his leadership, Germany – in coordination with its allies – expelled four Russian diplomats over Russia’s suspected involvement in the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, UK.Joseph Nasr (30 March 2018), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-russia-germany/russia-expels-four-german-diplomats-in-nerve-agent-poisoning-dispute-idUSKBN1H61D2 Russia expels four German diplomats in nerve agent poisoning dispute] Reuters.

Also, Maas has voted in favor of German participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions as well as in United Nations-mandated European Union peacekeeping missions on the African continent, such as in Darfur/Sudan (2017 and 2018), South Sudan (2017 and 2018) and Mali (2017 and 2018).

Maas has supported the creation of an international financial system independent of the United States, including the creation of a European Monetary Fund and an independent version of the SWIFT network.{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/23ca2986-a569-11e8-8ecf-a7ae1beff35b |newspaper=Financial Times |title=Germany calls for global payments system free of US |first=Guy |last=Chazan |date=21 August 2018}}

In October 2018, Maas questioned the sale of German arms to Saudi Arabia after the murder of Saudi opposition journalist Jamal Khashoggi.{{cite news |title=The Latest: Germany reassessing arms sales to Saudi Arabia |url=https://www.apnews.com/5986b58ac31348a488d9cd714c9addb7 |work=Associated Press |date=21 October 2018}}

In November 2018, Maas raised the issue of Xinjiang internment camps and human rights abuses against the Uyghurs in a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He.{{cite news |title=German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas calls for China transparency over Uighur Muslims |url=https://www.dw.com/en/german-foreign-minister-heiko-maas-calls-for-china-transparency-over-uighur-muslims/a-46257300 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=12 November 2018}}

Regarding the Yemeni Civil War, Maas told Spiegel Online: "In Yemen, an unprecedented humanitarian tragedy is unfolding before the eyes of the international community...The call from Mike Pompeo and James Mattis for a ceasefire and the resumption of talks comes at the right time. We fully support their appeal."{{cite news |title=Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on the situation in Yemen |url=https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/newsroom/news/maas-spiegel-yemen/2156780 |publisher=Federal Foreign Office |date=1 November 2018}}

On 8 May 2019, European Union struggle to keep preserve Iran Nuclear Deal agreement Maas said, “Our opinion is and remains: We want to preserve the agreement, in particular to prevent Iran from coming into possession of nuclear weapons, We don’t need further escalation in the region”.{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/32ee12070bc44a71936e5eb8331fba0e|title=Europeans struggle to preserve Iran nuclear accord|date=8 May 2019|website=AP NEWS}}

In September 2019, the Chinese Foreign Ministry called a meeting between Hong Kong student activist Joshua Wong and Maas as "disrespectful of China's sovereignty and an interference in China's internal affairs"."[https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/09/10/china-fury-hong-kong-activist-joshua-wong-meets-german-foreign-minister/ China fury as Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong meets German foreign minister]". HKFP. 10 September 2019.

Maas condemned the 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria and warned that the offensive would cause more destabilization in the region and could cause ISIS to grow.{{Cite web|url=https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/newsroom/news/tukrey-north-eastern-syria/2255180|title=Foreign Minister Maas on the Turkish offensive in north-eastern Syria|last=Amt|first=Auswärtiges|website=German Federal Foreign Office|language=en}}

On 3 January 2020, the high-level Iranian General, Qasem Soleimani, was assassinated by the United States, which considerably heightened the existing tensions between the two countries. Maas said that the airstrikes had not "made it easier to reduce tensions", but noted they "followed a series of dangerous Iranian provocations".{{Cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-nw-iran-qassem-soleimani-death-reaction-20200103-z7mainwh4rgxdgbgdamuhqz7zq-story.html |title='A more dangerous world': U.S. airstrike responsible for killing Iran's top general triggers global alarm |last=Leiceister |first=John |date=3 January 2020 |work=Associated Press (via the Chicago Tribune) |department=Nation & World}}

In June 2020, Maas warned that Israel's planned annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank will be a violation of international law.{{cite news |title=Germany's Maas heads to Israel to lobby against West Bank annexation |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-maas-heads-to-israel-to-lobby-against-west-bank-annexation/a-53755541 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=10 June 2020}} Following the Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese troops, Maas urged China and India to de-escalate tensions to avoid a major conflict.{{cite news|url=https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-maas-urges-india-china-to-de-escalate-border-tensions/a-53852433|title=Germany's Maas urges India, China to 'de-escalate' border tensions|date=17 June 2020|newspaper=DW News}}

There is a long-standing dispute between Turkey and Greece in the Aegean Sea.{{cite news |title=Germany urges end to military exercises in the Mediterranean as Turkey announces drills |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-turkey-greece-cyprus-military-maneuvers/a-54716535 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=27 August 2020}} In August 2020, Maas warned that the "current situation in the eastern Mediterranean is equivalent to playing with fire. Every little spark can lead to catastrophe."{{cite news |title=Germany's Maas calls on Greece and Turkey to avoid 'catastrophe' |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-maas-calls-on-greece-and-turkey-to-avoid-catastrophe/a-54693420 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=25 August 2020}}

Maas expressed deep concern over the escalation of hostilities in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh and called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to immediately halt fighting and progress towards a peaceful resolution.{{Cite web|title=Armenia-Azerbaijan clashes: How the world reacted|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/27/armenia-azerbaijan-clashes-world-reactions|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927124156/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/27/armenia-azerbaijan-clashes-world-reactions|archive-date=27 September 2020|website=aljazeera.com|language=en}}

On 26 October 2020, in response to the 2020 Thai protests, Maas mentioned that Germany is continuing to monitor the behavior of Thai King Vajiralongkorn during the time he spends in Germany. He had "made clear that politics that concern the country of Thailand can’t be conducted from German soil" and if there are things that are considered to be illegal, it will have "immediate consequences."{{Cite web|title=Thailand's King Becomes a Foreign Relations Challenge for Germany|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/thailands-king-becomes-a-foreign-relations-challenge-for-germany-11603733852|date=October 26, 2020|website=The Wall Street Journal|language=en}}

President Trump said in his speech to the UN General Assembly on 24 September 2018 that Germany will "become totally dependent on Russian energy if it doesn't change course immediately". Maas rejected this, telling reporters "Germany is not dependent on Russia, especially not on energy issues," and that Trump's accusation "does not correspond to reality".{{Cite news|title=Maas rejects Trump's criticism of Nord Stream 2|url=https://www.welt.de/newsticker/news1/article181680718/Energie-Maas-weist-Trumps-Kritik-an-Nord-Stream-2-zurueck.html|date=September 27, 2018|website=Welt|language=de}}

Following the release of the Senate Intelligence Committee report on CIA torture in December 2014, Maas told German newspaper Bild: "The CIA's practice of torture is gruesome […] Everybody involved must be legally prosecuted."Frank Jack Daniel and Peter Cooney (10 December 2014), [https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2014/12/10/us/politics/10reuters-usa-cia-torture.html Psychologist Says U.S. Senate's CIA Report Makes False Charges] New York Times.

In early 2015, Maas successfully introduced a new law meant to mitigate radical Islamist attacks, by making it a criminal offence to travel abroad to receive military training.Daniel Tost (5 February 2015), [http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/germany-set-pass-one-harshest-anti-terror-laws-europe-311851 Germany set to pass ‘one of the harshest’ anti-terror laws in Europe] EurActiv. Shortly after, he and Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière (CDU) jointly submitted a draft law permitting the temporary retention of internet and telephone data – excluding e-mail traffic – to aid criminal investigations.Daniel Tost (16 April 2015), [http://www.euractiv.com/sections/infosociety/german-government-repackages-data-retention-regulations-313821 German government repackages data retention regulations] EurActiv.

File:Nicolas de Rivière, Boris Johnson, Mike Pompeo and Heiko Maas in Brussels - 2018 (40838347435).jpg in Brussels in April 2018]]

In July 2015, Maas announced plans to amend Germany's penal code on sexual assault in accordance with the Istanbul Convention of the Council of Europe; the reform is to punish abuse which exploits a victim's fear of a "perceived menace" and tighten sentences in rape cases.[http://www.dw.com/en/german-justice-minister-announces-harsher-punishment-against-sexual-assault/a-18595257 German justice minister announces harsher punishment against sexual assault] Deutsche Welle.

In August 2015, Maas initiated the dismissal and retirement of chief federal prosecutor Harald Range; his ministry had questioned Range's decision to open a much-criticized treason investigation against journalists of netzpolitik.org who had reported about plans of Germany's domestic spy agency – the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution – to expand surveillance of online communication.[https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/08/04/world/europe/ap-eu-germany-treason-probe.html German Justice Minister Fires Country's Top Prosecutor] New York Times, 4 August 2015. Range, meanwhile, had accused the government of interfering in the investigation.

File:210414-D-XI929-1005 (51115721097).jpg

In a 2014 interview with the Financial Times, Maas called it "not acceptable" that Google "dominates the search engine world, and is able to rank its search results in a manner apt to promote its own business interests."Jeevan Vasagar (15 September 2014), [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/766b6116-3cf7-11e4-a2ab-00144feabdc0.html Transcript of interview with Heiko Maas, German justice minister] Financial Times. In 2015, he endorsed criticism expressed by Federation of German Consumer Organizations (VzBz) which held that Facebook’s data protection terms were too vague.Natascha Divac (26 February 2015), [https://www.wsj.com/articles/german-consumer-group-warns-facebook-over-data-protection-1424970061 German Consumer Group Warns Facebook Over Data Protection] Wall Street Journal. Later that year, he publicly accused Facebook of doing too little to thwart racist posts and hate comments on the social media platform.Erik Kirschbaum (27 August 2015), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-germany-racism-idUSKCN0QW1SG20150827 German justice minister takes aim at Facebook over racist posts] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029013007/http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/27/us-facebook-germany-racism-idUSKCN0QW1SG20150827 |date=29 October 2015 }} Reuters.

After the Netzpolitik scandal in 2015, where a German language blog leaked top secret documents, Maas proposed new legislation called 'Data Stolen Goods'.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stgb/__202d.html|title=Strafgesetzbuch (StGB) § 202d Datenhehlerei|website=Bundesministerium für Justiz und für Verbraucherschutz|access-date=2016-02-21|language=de}} Ulf Buermeyer, a judge at the District Court in Berlin{{Cite web|url=http://buermeyer.de/ulf/|title=buermeyer.de {{!}} Ulf Buermeyer|website=buermeyer.de|date=2015-10-04|access-date=2016-02-21}} cautioned that this anti-whistleblower law would be a massive attack on democracy and freedom of speech.{{Cite news|url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/digital/netzpolitik-datenhehlerei-1.2676184|title=Maas und die Datenhehlerei? Gastbeitrag von Ulf Buermeyer|last=Buermeyer|first=Ulf|access-date=2016-02-21|language=de|issn=0174-4917|newspaper=Süddeutsche}}

The law was passed as Section 202d of the German Penal Code (§202d StGB) by the Bundestag on 16 October 2015.{{cite web|last1=Markard|first1=Nora|title=GFF and its partners challenge anti-whistleblowing provision on handling "stolen" data|url=https://freiheitsrechte.org/whistleblowing/|website=freiheitsrechte.org|publisher=Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte e.V.|access-date=13 July 2017|language=en|date=19 January 2017|archive-date=7 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407062634/https://freiheitsrechte.org/whistleblowing/|url-status=dead}}

In early 2017, Maas proposed the "Netzwerkdurchsetzungsgesetz" ("network enforcement law") to combat online hate speech and fake news.{{cite news|url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/gesetzentwurf-von-heiko-maas-erdoganismus-in-reinkultur/19537970.html|title=Erdoganismus in Reinkultur|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online }}{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/netzpolitik/heiko-maas-wirtschaft-und-netzszene-protestieren-gegen-hassrede-gesetz-a-1142861.html|title=Hass im Netz: Wirtschaft und Aktivisten verbünden sich gegen Maas-Gesetz - SPIEGEL ONLINE - Netzwelt|newspaper=Der Spiegel |date=11 April 2017 }}{{cite news|url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/debatte-um-hatespeech-deklaration-fuer-die-meinungsfreiheit-gegen-gesetz-von-heiko-maas/19658306.html|title="Deklaration für die Meinungsfreiheit" gegen Gesetz von Heiko Maas|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online }} The United Nations responded with a letter, warning that several democratic freedoms were under attack.{{Cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/heiko-maas-ist-der-justizminister-in-wahrheit-ein-verfassungsfeind-a-1155044.html|title=Alle gegen Heiko Maas: ...und nur Natalia hält noch zu ihm|newspaper=Der Spiegel|date=29 June 2017 |access-date=2017-06-29 |last1=Fleischhauer |first1=Jan }} The proposed law was met with criticism throughout Germany from industry associations, IT experts, scientists, net-politicians, lawyers, privacy activists and civil rights campaigners who regard it as unconstitutional and defiant of EU-law and warn of "catastrophic effects for freedom of expression", causing online platforms to drastically censor online speech, resulting in privatization of legal enforcement and abolishing online anonymity.{{cite web|url=https://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Neuer-Entwurf-des-Netzwerkdurchsetzungsgesetzes-Frontalangriff-auf-das-Vertrauen-im-Internet-3668533.html|title=Neuer Entwurf des "Netzwerkdurchsetzungsgesetzes": Frontalangriff auf das Vertrauen im Internet|date=29 March 2017 |publisher=Heise}}{{cite web|url=https://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Ende-der-Anonymitaet-im-Netz-Maas-verschaerft-Gesetzesentwurf-gegen-Hate-Speech-3668265.html|title="Ende der Anonymität im Netz": Maas verschärft Gesetzesentwurf gegen Hate Speech|date=28 March 2017 |publisher=Heise}}{{cite news|url=http://www.zeit.de/digital/internet/2017-03/hate-speech-heiko-maas-netzwerkdurchsetzungsgesetz-entwurf-erweitert/seite-2|title=Hate-Speech: Katalog der zu löschenden Inhalte wurde erweitert|date=29 March 2017|newspaper=Die Zeit}}{{cite web|url=http://www.heute.de/spd-naher-verein-d64-kritisiert-gesetz-von-heiko-maas-gegen-hasskommentare-scharf-46780030.html|title=Zensur befürchtet: SPD-naher Verein zerreißt Maas' Facebook-Gesetz - heute-Nachrichten|access-date=22 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331220206/http://www.heute.de/spd-naher-verein-d64-kritisiert-gesetz-von-heiko-maas-gegen-hasskommentare-scharf-46780030.html|archive-date=31 March 2017|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://netzpolitik.org/2017/hate-speech-gesetz-schon-ausgeweitet-bevor-es-in-kraft-tritt/|title=Hate-Speech-Gesetz: Schon ausgeweitet, bevor es in Kraft tritt|first=Markus|last=Reuter|date=28 March 2017|access-date=5 December 2018}}{{cite news|url=http://www.zeit.de/digital/internet/2017-04/heiko-maas-netzdg-allianz-meinungsfreiheit|title=Heiko Maas: Breites Bündnis gegen das Facebookgesetz|first=Patrick|last=Beuth|date=11 April 2017|newspaper=Die Zeit}}

The law was passed on 30 June 2017. It also requires social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, to publish a biannual report on received complaints and how they dealt with them.{{cite news|title=Germany approves plans to fine social media firms up to €50m|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jun/30/germany-approves-plans-to-fine-social-media-firms-up-to-50m|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=30 June 2017|date=30 June 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Severin|first1=Thorsten|title=German parliament backs plan to fine social media over hate speech|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-hatecrime-idUSKBN19L0WZ|website=Reuters|access-date=13 July 2017|location=Berlin|language=en|date=30 June 2017}} Fines of up to €50 million are possible for companies that "systematically refuse to act or do not set up a proper complaint management system" and some warn that this threat of punishment may motivate companies to delete content rather than risk punishment. In 2018, it was reported that the law had led to the deletion of one of Maas's own tweets in which he said an opponent was an "idiot".{{cite web|url=http://www.spiked-online.com/newsite/article/internet-safety-just-means-internet-censorship/21425#.WxYpcTcpDxg|title='Internet safety' just means Internet censorship|first=Fraser|last=Myers|publisher=Spiked Online|date=2018-05-24|access-date=2018-06-05}}{{better source needed|opinion pieces should not be used as sources for factual claims. Needs RS.|date=April 2020}}

{{See also|Chaos Computer Club#Staatstrojaner affair|Advanced persistent threat|Cyber self-defense}}

On 22 June 2017, Maas expanded by 27 the number of offenses for which a lawful online search using malware can be used.{{cite news|last1=Rath|first1=Christian|title=Große Koalition will den Staatstrojaner: Der Spion in deinem Handy|newspaper=Die Tageszeitung: Taz |date=21 June 2017 |url=https://www.taz.de/!5424259/|publisher=die tageszeitung|access-date=30 June 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Mühlbauer|first1=Peter|title=Maas' Zensurgesetz: Verbände hoffen auf Union und EU-Kommission|date=19 May 2017 |url=https://www.heise.de/tp/features/Maas-Zensurgesetz-Verbaende-hoffen-auf-Union-und-EU-Kommission-3717858.html|publisher=Telepolis|access-date=30 June 2017|language=de-DE}}{{cite web|title=Große Koalition beschließt Ausweitung bei Staatstrojaner und Online-Durchsuchung|url=https://netzpolitik.org/2017/grosse-koalition-beschliesst-ausweitung-bei-staatstrojaner-und-online-durchsuchung/|website=netzpolitik.org|date=22 June 2017 |access-date=30 June 2017|language=de-DE}} Experts and civil rights defenders have strongly criticized the law for being a gross provocation, violating privacy and undermining cyber-security. Maas has also been accused of using tricks for the proceeding of passing these amendments and using a "backdoor" that has "nothing to do with democratic debate culture".{{cite web|last1=Mühlbauer|first1=Peter|title=Staatstrojaner im doppelten Sinne|date=23 June 2017 |url=https://www.heise.de/tp/features/Staatstrojaner-im-doppelten-Sinne-3754565.html|publisher=Telepolis|access-date=30 June 2017|language=de-DE}}

File:ColognePride 2017, Straßenfest - Eröffnung-6153.jpg in July 2017]]

After the massive sexual assaults of New Year 2016 in Cologne,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35231046 |title=Germany shocked by Cologne New Year gang assaults on women - BBC News |work=BBC News |date=5 January 2016 |access-date=2016-02-21}} Heiko Maas wanted to reform sexual prosecution laws.{{cite web |url=http://www.bmjv.de/SharedDocs/Interviews/DE/2016/Namensartikel/02062016_TSP_ReformSexualstrafrecht.html |title=BMJV | Interviews | Sexuelle Gewalt findet in der Mitte unserer Gesellschaft statt |work=Tagesspiegel |date=2016-02-06 |access-date=2016-02-21 |archive-date=14 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160214234446/http://www.bmjv.de/SharedDocs/Interviews/DE/2016/Namensartikel/02062016_TSP_ReformSexualstrafrecht.html |url-status=dead }} Tonio Walter, writing an op-ed in Die Zeit, said that the law was overly broad: under a proposed ban on groping, he claimed, a wife could be punished for embracing her husband from behind, while rules against sex by coercion could punish a boss whose employee consented to sex under a (possibly mistaken, said Walter) fear of losing the job. Walter likewise said that the penalty of 10 years in prison for a sexual assault and 15 for rape by coercion would be too much, noting that non-sexual assaults received a lesser penalty under the laws.{{cite news |url=http://www.zeit.de/gesellschaft/2016-02/sexualstrafrecht-koeln-heiko-maas-reform-gesetzgebung |title=Sexualstrafrecht: Zu früh, zu weit | ZEIT ONLINE |newspaper=Die Zeit |date=10 February 2016 |access-date=2016-02-21 |last1=Walter |first1=Tonio }}

In April 2016, Maas called for a legal ban on sexist advertisements, which "reduce women or men to sexual objects." Germany's Association of Communications Agencies (GWA) observed that it is a subjective matter of taste whether an advertisement is sexist or not. FDP leader Christian Lindner remarked that the proposed ban indicated a similar mindset as radical Islamic leaders.{{cite web | title=German Justice Minister Maas slammed over proposed 'sexist advert' ban - News| website=DW.COM | date=2016-04-11 | url=http://www.dw.com/en/german-justice-minister-maas-slammed-over-proposed-sexist-advert-ban/a-19179720 | access-date=2016-04-14}}

• {{flag|Latvia}}: Grand Officer of the Order of the Three Stars{{Cite web|url=https://www.vestnesis.lv/|title=Par Triju Zvaigžņu ordeņa piešķiršanu - Latvijas Vēstnesis|website=www.vestnesis.lv}}

• 2014 – Israel Jacobson Prize, awarded by the Union of Progressive Jews in Germany (UPJ)Thorsten Jungholt (24 July 2014), [https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article130539940/Maas-Mahnruf-im-Saal-des-NS-Blutrichters.html Maas’ Mahnruf im Saal des NS-Blutrichters] Die Welt.
• 2019 – Prize for Understanding and Tolerance, awarded by the Jewish Museum Berlin[https://www.jmberlin.de/en/press-release-31-october-2019 This year’s Prize for Understanding and Tolerance will be awarded to German Minister of Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas and the artist Anselm Kiefer] Jewish Museum Berlin, press release of 31 October 2019.Annika Schönstädt (16 November 2019), [https://www.morgenpost.de/berlin/leute/article227667729/Maas-und-Kiefer-fuer-Verstaendigung-und-Toleranz-ausgezeichnet.html Maas und Kiefer für Verständigung und Toleranz ausgezeichnet] Berliner Morgenpost.

In 2018, Maas divorced his wife Corinna, with whom he had been married since 2000 and had two sons. In spring 2016, Maas and actress Natalia Wörner first appeared as a couple. On 23 August 2023, Wörner and Maas announced that they had separated some time ago. He has been in a relationship with his former wife Corinna again since the end of 2023.

Maas enjoys football and is a triathlete. He is a fan of Hamburger SV.

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{IMDb name|2183020}}
• {{Official website|www.heiko-maas.de}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20131106085016/http://www.wahl.de/politiker/spd/heiko-maas Heiko Maas] at wahl.de

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{{s-bef|before=Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger|as=Minister of Justice}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Minister for Foreign Affairs|years=2018–2021}}

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