Ströer and the Bremen Office for the Protection of the Constitution start partnership

Ströer, one of Germany’s leading media companies, is breaking new ground in public safety communication in partnership with the Bremen Office for the Protection of the Constitution (LfV). Based on a cooperation agreement—the first of its kind in Germany—Bremen’s Office for the Protection of the Constitution will now use Ströer’s digital media to warn the public directly and immediately about current security threats.

The initiative kicks off with a warning campaign regarding a phishing scheme attributed to foreign intelligence services. In this scheme, attackers pose as technical support for the “Signal” messaging service and attempt to pressure users into entering sensitive data. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) and the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) had previously warned of this threat. The target groups include employees from companies, government agencies, the media, and the political and military sectors—as well as private individuals.

To alert as many people as possible to the current threats posed by disinformation, Ströer’s digital outdoor media displayed the warning messages in May on busy streets, at transportation hubs, and at transit stops throughout the city of Bremen. They were displayed on an ad hoc basis and closely coordinated with the BfV and the Bremen Police. In the long term, further campaigns on the topics of disinformation, hybrid threats, and current developments in extremism are planned through this channel.

“With our digital media in public spaces, we reach a large portion of the population seamlessly and in real time. Rapidly building reach can be crucial in challenging situations. Our screens are already supporting municipal crisis management teams, the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance, and security authorities with warnings and manhunts. We are pleased to now establish another important use case with the state of Bremen: warnings and public education regarding disinformation campaigns. “The trust that outdoor media enjoys in public spaces helps to effectively spread these messages far and wide,” says Alexander Stotz, CEO of Ströer Media Deutschland GmbH.

“Threats such as phishing by foreign intelligence services are real and affect people in the midst of their daily lives. We therefore provide information where people are—not just on the internet or in specialized media. “Bremen is thus breaking new ground in security communication,” says Dr. Eva Högl, Senator for the Interior and Sports of the State of Bremen.

“With this project, the Bremen Office for the Protection of the Constitution is taking on a pioneering role. We want to raise awareness through these direct warnings to the public and reach different groups than we have before,” adds Thorge Koehler, Head of the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Bremen.

Ströer markets approximately 300,000 media units nationwide—ranging from traditional billboards to digital out-of-home screens and exclusive advertising rights at train stations. Digital out-of-home media enable the rapid, targeted delivery of relevant content in real time, making them an effective tool for socially relevant communication in public spaces.