NEOS resistance against government plan: Messenger monitoring under criticism!

NEOS resistance against government plan: Messenger monitoring under criticism!

Österreich - The planned messenger monitoring of the Austrian government is still the focus of the political disputes. Despite the continued resistance of the NEOs, the draft law, which is intended to enable comprehensive surveillance of encrypted communication, is currently being promoted. Neos MP Nikolaus Scherak is skeptical on the last day of the assessment and expresses that the measure does not match the government program, which requires constitutional solutions. He refers to the concerns that are expressed not only by his party, but also by organizations such as Amnesty International and Epicenter.Works.

Amnesty International has urged that the use of the proposed technology, which is called high -invasive spyware, cannot be complied with in accordance with human rights. According to Charlotte Deiss from Amnesty, it is excluded to use the software in a way that takes into account human rights. The organization compares the planned surveillance with a secret penetration into the privacy of citizens. The ability of the software to grant unhindered access to devices, microphones and cameras raises fundamental questions regarding the right to privacy.

concerns and technical challenges

The draft law stipulates that security authorities can access messenger data in certain cases when it comes to terrorist or constitutional activities. The authorization to monitor should be a maximum of three months, with the option for extension. According to a measure, those affected must be informed. But Amnesty International and ISPA, the umbrella organization of the Internet economy, express concerns about security technology and the legal load capacity. ISPA General Secretary Stefan Ebenberger emphasizes that the requirements for the software can hardly be implemented, since there are no known monitoring software that can guarantee such requirements.

In addition, it is criticized that control over the technology used is inadequate. The independent review of the software is considered necessary, since the source codes are not disclosed and it remains unclear whether the legal requirements can be observed. In this context, Amnesty International warns of possible security gaps that could not only be exploited by monitoring, but also by criminals.

political context and outlook

media reports suggest that monitoring of messengers is part of a coalition condition of the ÖVP. Nevertheless, there are doubts about the constitutional conformity of the project, as the four failed attempts at regulation illustrate in the past. Amnesty and other organizations emphasize that an effective use of investigative instruments must be present, but without the risks that high -invasive software brings.

ISPA recognizes improvements in the current draft law compared to previous versions, but continues to demand that surveillance should only be used in particularly serious cases. The problems of data storage are also in the room, and the concerns about the abuse of the surveillance software are also not unfounded. Examples from other countries, such as Poland and Hungary, show how such technologies could be used against political opposition and journalists.

The Interior Ministry defends the draft with reference to positive statements by lawyers who emphasize the need to ensure the right to security in a democratic society. In the debate about messenger monitoring, it remains clear that the balance between security and the fundamental rights of citizens is a central topic for the future.