CITIZENS NEWS

Austria advances controversial spyware law enabling government access to encrypted messaging apps

By lauraharris // 2025-06-25

• Austria's cabinet has approved legislation allowing law enforcement to use spyware (Bundestrojaner) to infiltrate encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram.
• Under the new framework, authorities can monitor encrypted communications even when there is no criminal suspicion, provided other investigative methods have failed.
• Surveillance requests must be reviewed by the Federal Administrative Court, with a panel of judges required for approval. Annual targets are limited to 25 to 30 cases, with additional oversight if that number is exceeded.
• Some professions such as journalists, lawyers and clergy retain confidentiality protections. However, privacy advocates argue that protections for medical and psychological professionals are too narrow.
•  The Freedom Party (FPO) strongly opposes the measure, calling it an attack on civil liberties and accusing the OVP, SPO and NEOS of enabling mass surveillance. FPO pledges to fight the law on all fronts.

Austria is on the brink of a major expansion of its surveillance powers, as its cabinet greenlights legislation that would allow law enforcement to infiltrate encrypted communications using spyware. The cabinet proposed law, which targets widely used messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram, would authorize the use of a tool known as source TKU (telecommunications surveillance at the source). The software enables authorities to bypass encryption by monitoring conversations directly on suspects' devices. (Related: CNN, NBC and New York Times want to destroy encrypted messaging apps like Signal and Telegram.) Under the newly approved legal framework, authorities can deploy malware known as the Bundestrojaner to intercept encrypted communications on mobile phones and computers even when individuals are not suspected of any crime, provided that all other investigative tools have been exhausted. The amendments span several key laws, including the State Protection and Intelligence Service Act, the Security Police Act and the Telecommunications Act. Government documents outline two core aims: preventing serious constitutional threats that carry a potential sentence of at least 10 years, and enabling the monitoring of encrypted digital communication. Karner promised that the use of spyware would be tightly regulated. A panel of three judges would have to approve any surveillance request and the number of individuals targeted annually is expected to remain between 25 and 30. Surpassing that limit would require mandatory reporting to Parliament. If encrypted surveillance exceeds 30 cases in one year, the Interior Minister must notify a permanent subcommittee of the National Council, Austria's lower house of Parliament. Every surveillance request must undergo judicial review by the Federal Administrative Court. A legal protection officer from the Interior Ministry has three business days to respond to each application. After that, a panel of three judges will evaluate the request. In emergencies, an individual judge can approve it under a 24-hour duty system. Some legal protections remain in place for sensitive professions, such as journalists, lawyers and clergy. However, patient confidentiality is only preserved in narrowly defined contexts, such as interactions with psychiatrists, psychotherapists and officially recognized counseling professionals — a restriction that healthcare advocates have called insufficient. If the law passes, the spyware infrastructure will be rolled out in 2027, following a competitive procurement process. Karner is expected to present an implementation roadmap in the coming days.

FPÖ strongly opposes the spyware law

The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) has come out strongly against the proposed measure. In a press release on June 18, Secretary General Michael Schnedlitz described it as "an attack on all citizens" and warned of a descent into "total digital surveillance." He accused the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) of seeking to target and expose critical voices among the public. "The ÖVP wants to spy on citizens critical of the government, the SPÖ is silent – as always when it comes to the people – and the NEOS are making the biggest killing of its history. The self-proclaimed liberals have sold their values faster than one can say 'Meinl-Reisinger.' Only one question remains: What did it cost? Which items, commitments or horror were promised in the back rooms so that the NEOS now play 'pink' support wheels for the black surveillance state?" warned FPÖ General Secretary and Homeland Security Spokesman NAbg. Michael Schnedlitz. In turn, Schnedlitz vowed to oppose it forcefully. "With this decision, this decision is taking another step toward the control state today. The FPÖ is and remains the last protecting power of freedom and fundamental rights in that country. We will fight this madness – with all our might, at all levels and side by side with the citizens." Learn more about the expansion of surveillance states at Surveillance.news. Watch this video of cybersecurity and tech expert Rob Braxman discussing how Apple has a backdoor to bypass encryption. This video is from the channel Pool Pharmacy on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

U.S. officials warned to switch to encrypted communications amid cyber espionage threats.

CIA used second Swiss encryption firm to spy on governments – report.

Florida lawmakers reject encryption backdoor bill that can be exploited by criminals.

Sources include: ReclaimtheNet.org TheMunichEye.com OTS.AT Brighteon.com

glitch privacy national security surveillance spyware big government deception Austria infiltration information technology privacy watch Spygate encrypted communications spyware law