GENEVA – The Austrian government has unveiled a draft law aimed at enhancing oversight of messaging applications such as WhatsApp and Telegram. This initiative emerged from a recent government retreat, where Interior Minister Gerhard Karner of the Austrian People’s Party (OVP) addressed the media following a closed meeting in Vienna on Tuesday evening.
Addressing Security Concerns
Minister Karner articulated the pressing need for law enforcement to gain insights into the activities of potential terrorists and extremists using these messaging platforms. “Currently, the police have no way of seeing what terrorists and extremists are doing on messaging programs,” he stated, emphasizing the necessity for a “level playing field.” He reassured the public that the proposed measures would not broadly impact the population, noting that they would pertain to only a handful of specific cases each year.
He clarified that access to messaging services and the ability to read messages would be restricted to instances that suggest terrorist or constitution-threatening activities. Specific scenarios mentioned included the preparation of terrorist attacks and the establishment of terrorist groups, as well as potential espionage activities.
Coalition Perspectives
State Secretary Jorg Leichtfried from the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPO), a coalition partner of the OVP, expressed confidence in the initiative, asserting that it poses no risk of mass surveillance. He characterized the measure as a “last resort” and indicated that constitutional concerns have been adequately addressed. Leichtfried further remarked that the public should feel reassured about their safety as a result of these efforts.
However, the proposal has sparked some reservations among the OVP’s third coalition partner, the liberal NEOS. Party leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger acknowledged improvements in the draft, such as the potential for early involvement of the parliamentary subcommittee. “We have not reached the end of the discussion, but are at the beginning of it,” she remarked, indicating that further dialogue is necessary.
To facilitate this discussion, a comprehensive review period of eight weeks has been established for the draft law. During this time, the OVP and SPO will engage with NEOS to advocate for the proposed measures.
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