According to the Law, the Office for State Security and Intelligence, with prior approval of the Court, can monitor both encrypted and unshifted messages of persons marked as “dangerous”. Supervision can last up to three months, with the possibility of extension.
The bill provoked Žuster discussions and divisions among representatives. Although the law eventually received the support of the majority (105 votes for and 71 against), the ruling coalition was not unique in support.
The representatives of the green and right-handed Freedan Party of Austria (FPÖ) opposed the law, warning that it opens the door to hazardous presidents and possible abuses, index transmitted.
Süleyman Zorba from Green invited Social Democrats and Liberals to vote against, saying, “This is not security protection, but undermining the basic rights of citizens.”
FPÖ called the law by an alarming attack on privacy and accused the government to use the fight against terrorism as an excuse to expand the authority of supervision.
Within the Liberal Party, Neos Law also caused divisions. The two of their representatives, Nikolaus Scherak and Stephanie Krisper, refused to support him with the reasoning that, even after the amendment, unconstitutional. “This measure may impair citizens in the rule of law,” Krisper said, adding that the control mechanisms were not clearly defined.
The Internal Affairs Minister Gerhard Carner (ÖVP) defended the law as a necessary response to modern security threats. “This is a big day for security and police,” Karner said, emphasizing that the law would not be used massively, but exclusively in individual cases, with strict supervision of the court.
He also quoted an unnamed investigator: “Mobile Phones Citizens do not interest us, but the safety of citizens Yes.”
Despite the internal disagreements, the head of the Neos MP of Yannick Shetty said the law was thoroughly altered during the advisory phase and that protective measures that prevent mass supervision were installed.
“It was one of the most memorable modified laws lately,” he said.
After the vote, Karner said: “We fought for long and intensively to make this Law and provide the police and intelligence services to the contemporary powers. This is necessary in order to act equally against terrorists and prevent attacks.”
(Vijesti.ba)
