End of Indiscriminate Chat Control: This is What the Greens and NEOS Say

Greens and NEOS see the end of warrantless chat control at the EU level as a "milestone victory for our fundamental rights" and a "victory for freedom." Austria has taken a central position in rejecting chat control, said Süleyman Zorba (Greens) on Friday. The FPÖ, on the other hand, criticized the NEOS. At the EU level, they present themselves as saviors of fundamental rights, but in the National Council in Vienna, the NEOS had agreed to even more comprehensive messenger surveillance.

Decision by Danish EU Council Presidency

The Danish EU Council Presidency decided on Thursday, after years of intense discussion, to remove the fundamental surveillance of private chat messages from the legislative plans to combat child pornography. Several member states opposed it, including Germany alongside Austria.

According to MEP Anna Stürgkh (NEOS), the original draft provided for automated control of all private messages, images, and videos, even before encryption. "Surveillance measures that massively interfere with privacy require concrete suspicion," she emphasized. Both Zorba and Stürgkh stressed their parties' opposition to chat control at the federal level.

FPÖ: "Summit of Political Hypocrisy"

FPÖ security spokesman Gernot Darmann could not leave this uncommented. He described Stürgkh's statements as the "summit of political hypocrisy." The national surveillance decided by the black-red-pink government goes even further than the EU plans. "What the NEOS co-decided in Vienna is a general suspicion against the entire population," said Darmann.

The National Council decided on messenger surveillance in July. However, this may only be applied after extensive approval and in cases indicating terrorist and constitution-threatening activities. Despite the rejection by two NEOS deputies, the proposal achieved a clear majority with 105 votes in favor and 71 against.

(APA/Red)

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