VIENNA. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer has called for increased powers for intelligence agencies to monitor messaging apps following a foiled ISIS-inspired suicide attack targeting a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna.
The plot, led by a 19-year-old, was discovered this week, leading to the cancellation of Swift’s three scheduled concerts at a soccer stadium. The planned attack, aimed at a crowd of thousands, prompted a reassessment of Austria’s strict regulations on communication surveillance.
Chancellor Nehammer, who is seeking re-election in the upcoming September 29 election, emphasized the need for technological upgrades to match the capabilities of extremists and organized crime. In an interview with Germany’s Bild newspaper, Nehammer stated, “We really need our agencies to be upgraded technically so they’re on an equal footing with terrorists, with organized crime, so we can combat them.”
He added, “It’s vital that messenger services like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram can be decrypted for security authorities, under judicial oversight, while upholding the rule of law.”
Austria’s intelligence services were alerted to the attack by a foreign intelligence agency. Nehammer confirmed that the primary suspects have been apprehended, and additional arrests are expected as investigations continue into criminal networks. More ISIS supporters have also been identified, according to Nehammer.
The case has reignited the debate over Austria’s stringent monitoring regulations compared to other Western nations, highlighting ongoing concerns about national security and privacy.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
