Enhanced video monitoring across Austria
Austria is set to significantly increase its public CCTV surveillance, with a three-digit number of locations expected to be under video monitoring in the near future. Currently, about 20 locations in public spaces, such as Reumannplatz in Vienna and Jakominiplatz in Graz, are under surveillance.
The announcement for this expansion was made by Interior Minister Gerhard Karner of the ÖVP. The aim is to reduce criminal activity in public places across the country. The police will now be able to use video surveillance not only in locations where dangerous attacks have occurred but also in areas with indications of potential future attacks or identifiable criminal structures based on police risk assessments. The police will work closely with cities and municipalities to determine the new locations for additional surveillance.
Under the new decree, the decision to install cameras at a particular location no longer solely depends on those identified as "hot spots" for criminal activity. Instead, all federal states in Austria can now potentially have locations under video surveillance. The storage duration of video recordings will remain at 48 hours, and live monitoring will only occur at certain times, primarily during targeted police operations—not continuously.
The expansion of CCTV surveillance in Austria has faced criticism from privacy advocacy groups, who warn that this could pose a significant threat to fundamental rights. They call for stronger legal protections and proportionality reviews.
Seven out of nine federal states in Austria currently have locations under video surveillance, and the wishes of cities and municipalities align with the expansion of CCTV surveillance. The new decree has lowered the barriers for implementing CCTV surveillance in Austria, allowing for a more widespread use of video monitoring in public places. The footage will be stored for 48 hours, and live monitoring will be limited.
Sources: [1] APA News Agency [2] Interior Minister Gerhard Karner's announcement [3] Privacy advocacy groups' statements
The community policy, which includes the expansion of CCTV surveillance, has drawn attention to employment policies, as it may lead to increased demand for technology-related jobs in the security sector. The new employment policy should address the need for data protection and privacy training for those who will be responsible for operating and managing the surveillance technology.
