Austria Approves Targeted Messaging App Surveillance

Austria is moving forward with plans to monitor encrypted messaging services such as WhatsApp and Telegram as part of a broader strategy to combat terrorism.

The government announced that surveillance software could be used starting in 2027 under tightly controlled legal conditions.

Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said on Tuesday that the conservative-led coalition government in Vienna had approved the measure, though it must still pass through parliament for final confirmation.

Under the proposed legislation, the use of surveillance tools will require prior approval from a special court consisting of three judges, based on concrete evidence of criminal or terrorist activity. 

Initially, the plan limits the number of approved surveillance cases to 30 annually, and each case will be subject to parliamentary oversight.

Karner described the measure as a major step forward in safeguarding national security. He emphasized that the proposal includes strict legal safeguards to ensure privacy rights are respected and that surveillance will only occur in high-risk situations.