Heiko Josef Maas (born September 19, 1966, in Saarlouis, Saarland, West Germany) is a German lawyer and former politician affiliated with the Social Democratic Party (SPD). He studied law at the University of Trier, completing his state examinations in 1990 and 1993, after which he worked as a lawyer and entered local politics in Saarland. Maas joined the SPD in the early 1990s and served as a member of the Bundestag from 2005. He gained prominence as an advocate for digital regulation and anti-hate speech measures, notably spearheading the Network Enforcement Act (NetzDG) in 2017 to combat online hate and misinformation on social media platforms. From 2013 to 2018, he served as Federal Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection, focusing on family law reform, data protection, and combating right-wing extremism. From 2018 to 2021, he served as Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasizing multilateralism, EU integration, and a firm stance against authoritarian regimes, including sanctions on Russia following the annexation of Crimea. His advocacy for stricter online content moderation drew both praise for protecting democracy and criticism from conservative and libertarian groups over free speech concerns. After leaving politics in 2021, he returned to private legal practice in 2022, focusing on corporate and international law. A triathlete known for his fitness regimen, Maas has maintained a public profile through writings and commentary on global affairs, underscoring his commitment to social justice and European unity.