Surveillance delusion in Austria: Government is planning radical measures!

Surveillance delusion in Austria: Government is planning radical measures!

Laimgrubengasse 10, 1060 Wien, Österreich - The Fundamental Rights NGO Epicenter.Works is criticism of the government program of the ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS, in particular with regard to the expansion of surveillance measures. It is feared that the planned introduction of a Bundestrojan endanger IT security in Austria, since this technology requires open security gaps that could be exploited by criminals and enemy states. Epicenter.Works emphasizes that the parties responsible, which were able to prevent a similar law in 2019, have now made a drastic turning turn. This decision contradicts the previously emphasized security priorities and raises questions about the proportionality of the measures, such as epicenter.works reported .

In addition, the NGO criticizes the introduction of a digital verse that excludes numerous people without digital identity and that harbors the potential for a disproportionate restriction of freedom of expression. This is particularly worrying, since the measure should be enforced without verifiable benefits for law enforcement. While cyber security is mentioned as a priority, concrete strategies for effective implementation are missing, which increases the concerns of the NGO that existing measures should be evaluated before new ones are introduced. The suspicion -independent cell phone evaluation of asylum seekers is also considered massive intervention in privacy, and it has also been classified as illegal in Germany, such as APA-OS reported .

In the political debate, the program announces that not least a violation of the contract threatens through the negligent implementation of the EU directive. The positive aspects are difficult to see, while the expansion of the security measures and the planned monitoring through military intelligence services can lead to considerable legal and security -political concerns. Across all measures, the program is silent about the necessary evaluation of existing laws, which stimulates the NGOs and experts for the initiative of a National Council team to ensure security and fundamental rights in Austria.