It's almost ironic that this is reported the same week as journalists in the US getting visits from FBI agents for reporting about security concerns with the new Air Force One....
When you're arguing about whether the problem is worse in US or Germany, you're admitting there's a problem.
Formally, what's happening in Germany is enforcing existing laws against insults, libel and slander.
Formally, what's happening in Germany where you can't express your opinion that someone is bad is destruction of free speech.
I don't think any of these are legal in the US either.
They aren't, but just calling someone names is slander in Germany, where in the US it's an expression of opinion. Also, in the US fact is an absolute defense against slander and libel. It doesn't matter if your intent is to cause someone financial harm, for example; if you are doing it with facts then it's legal, because expressing facts is legal.