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Ludwig pushes video surveillance in Vienna: A step towards a control state?
Vienna is planning to expand video surveillance to prevent crime, supported by Mayor Ludwig and Interior Minister Karner.
Ludwig pushes video surveillance in Vienna: A step towards a control state?
Video surveillance could soon be expanded in Vienna. Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) supports the plans of Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) to expand surveillance in other places. Currently, only 20 places in Austria are equipped with video surveillance, including Reumannplatz and Praterstern, Keplerplatz and Karlsplatz in Vienna. These measures are primarily intended to contribute to the prevention of crime.
A new decree from the Ministry of the Interior has created the basis for this. It allows cameras to be installed in places where there is evidence of “dangerous attacks or criminal structures”. Previously, this was only possible in places where dangerous incidents had already been recorded. However, exactly where these new cameras will be installed is still up in the air.
The Vienna Greens are skeptical. They warn against widespread surveillance without any specific reason and speak out in favor of an effective gun law. Judith Pühringer, the party leader, is not uncritical about the exhaustion of surveillance options. The FPÖ also has a mixed attitude: it is open to cameras in crime-ridden places, but at the same time makes it clear that fundamental rights and civil liberties must be protected.
Data protection expert Nikolaus Forgo expresses concerns about the possible development of a “control state”. He fears that the new decree could be legally controversial and may be reviewed by the Constitutional Court or the European Court of Justice. According to the Austria government Image data, including video recordings, fall under personal data if people are clearly identifiable or it is possible to draw conclusions about their identity.
The legal framework for video surveillance is complex. Before commissioning, those responsible must carefully consider whether monitoring is permissible. In certain cases a data protection impact assessment is required, in others not. Another important detail is that recordings can generally only be stored for 72 hours, unless there is a specific reason for storing them for longer. Marking surveillance areas is also a legal requirement.
The discussion about video surveillance is also a hot topic internationally. In Germany, like on the website of BFDI is recorded, similar trends are emerging with an increasing number of surveillance cameras and new technical options for surveillance. However, it is also emphasized here that data protection must remain a central concern in order to protect the fundamental rights of citizens.
Finally, it remains to be seen whether and how the plans for video surveillance in Vienna will be implemented in concrete terms. The debate has been opened and is being continued intensively on both a political and social level.