After the alleged plans to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna became known, the Greens are now opening up to a possible expansion of the powers of the Directorate for State Security and Intelligence (DSN) to monitor messengers: A corresponding draft from the Ministry of the Interior is to be sent for review, the APA said yesterday. Then lawyers and experts would have “the opportunity to form a well-founded opinion”.
Karner for “modern surveillance methods”
Yesterday, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) once again called for “modern surveillance methods”. A draft law on this has been with the Greens for months, said Karner on the sidelines of a press conference. The options it contains for messenger surveillance, for example, “make sense”, but he has “no understanding” for “constant tinkering”.
“Terrorists don’t write letters,” stressed the Interior Minister, referring to the coalition partner for further questions. A majority in the National Council is needed for implementation. The Greens have recently shown themselves to be willing to talk in principle, but have called for a proposal that complies with fundamental rights, data protection and the constitution.
Maurer: “Transparent discussion” necessary
Yesterday afternoon, the Green Party announced that they were in favor of a transparent public discussion. “It is clear that we must do everything we can to prevent terrorist acts of violence and protect the population,” said party chairwoman Sigrid Maurer in a statement to the APA. “After the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the federal Trojan horse in 2019, there are many open questions that have not yet been adequately clarified. In order to facilitate this clarification, it is now time to send the BMI draft for public review.”
During the review phase, which usually lasts six weeks, lawyers, constitutional lawyers, technology and data protection experts, the opposition and the public have “the opportunity to form a well-founded opinion”.
The Greens stressed that this issue is about balancing two important concerns: security against terrorism and the protection of civil rights. “Such a large project must be discussed broadly by experts and on the basis of facts – let’s do this transparently in public so that everyone can get an idea of the Interior Ministry’s draft,” said Maurer.
Law for security companies demanded
The Greens also called for a law for security companies. These are currently “not subject to any quality standards or controls,” criticized Maurer. “There is neither standardized training nor minimum requirements for staff.” These “abuses” that have become apparent through the investigations should be remedied by a “security services law.”
The Greens want to see a mandatory registration and control of security companies implemented, and employees should also be officially registered, including a comparison with the security authorities. Training for staff should be standardized. Maurer announced talks with the coalition partner on this matter.
