Shock After Terror Attack in Villach: Ministry of the Interior Wants Additional Powers

On one hand, they want to enable messenger surveillance, and on the other hand, they are examining whether additional powers are needed for entering residences. This is already possible under the Aliens Police Act in various scenarios.

Specifically, the authorities can enter properties and workplaces, for example, to check if the provisions meet the requirements of basic care. The same applies to apprehend a trafficked person or a person engaged in illegal prostitution. Security forces can also enter if it is justified to assume that at least three foreigners are present in the premises, including one who is not legally residing in the federal territory.

Furthermore, security forces can enter places to discover a foreigner who is not legally residing in the federal territory engaged in unauthorized employment. The same applies if a search warrant is present.

Terrorist Attack in Villach: Easier Controls in Private Accommodations

The Ministry of the Interior now wants to make increased use of these possibilities. Additionally, they are looking for options to conduct easier controls in private accommodations. Therefore, a mandate has been issued to the relevant experts at the Ministry of the Interior to further develop powers in this area. Corresponding legislative changes could be initiated by the future government.

The Ministry of the Interior and state security have long been fighting for access to messenger surveillance, which is only actively supported by the ÖVP. The FPÖ and NEOS have shown opposition in recent months, while the Greens want a legally compliant solution. After all, the Constitutional Court has already overturned such a regulation once. The SPÖ has recently shown the most openness.

Ludwig for Measures on Messenger Surveillance

The latter reiterated his stance today on the sidelines of the candidate presentation for the Vienna election. He considers it important to get a grip on the developments in social media - especially concerning the influence on young people, said Ludwig. "It will be necessary to implement appropriate legal measures here that are compatible with data protection and the democratic rights that every citizen has." The Constitutional Court has indeed left doors open here, where one could take legal action.

Ludwig also emphasized that other countries in the EU have already dealt with this. The radicalization in social media is constantly accelerating. By now, this happens for the most part through social networks. "We need to intervene and become faster."

The Ö1 "Midday Journal" quoted the SPÖ parliamentary club on Monday as saying that a constitutionally compliant surveillance of messenger services must be examined. NEOS club vice-chairman Nikolaus Scherak would also be willing to discuss it, should the Ministry of the Interior present a draft that complies with the constitution. The Greens see it the same way. The FPÖ, which once decided on the "Federal Trojan" with the ÖVP, is now strictly against it under its current party leader Herbert Kickl.

The Ministry of the Interior, for its part, drafted a legislative proposal last year. According to this, messenger surveillance should only be applied to prevent particularly serious attacks that endanger the constitution, which carry a penalty of at least up to ten years imprisonment or are related to espionage activities. Furthermore, according to the draft law, the scope of the data that may be monitored must be precisely defined. Finally, a comprehensive control system was proposed, in which the legal protection officer could raise concerns in advance.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.