Justice Minister Alma Zadic (Greens) commented in the ZIB2 interview on the current debate on the legislative package on “Hate on the Net” and on the allegations against the public prosecutor’s office in Wels as a result of the suicide of doctor Lisa-Maria Kellermayr. Zadic rejected the ÖVP’s desire for a special public prosecutor’s office.
Asked whether the government package on “Hate on the Net” by the ÖVP and the Greens had promised too much, Zadic said: “The major goal of the “Hate on the Net” package is, on the one hand, that people affected by hate on the Internet are able to defend themselves quickly and inexpensively and, on the other hand, legal protection is also expanded.”
Accordingly, criminal offenses have been sharpened and free process support has been introduced. After the recent debate showed that the existing offer had hardly been accepted by those affected, the ministry is now launching an information campaign.
Zadic rejects the ÖVP proposal
In the fight against hatred on the internet, the ÖVP has proposed setting up a special public prosecutor’s office that deals exclusively with threats on the internet. In ZIB2, Minister of Justice Alma Zadic (Greens) rejects the proposal.
Action by Twitter and Telegram “big problem”
Zadic emphasized that awareness of hate on the internet must be raised at all levels. “All the experts report back to me: ‘We have sufficient laws.’ Only these laws have to be applied and implemented.” The fact that platforms like Twitter and Telegram ignore the existing legislation is “a big problem,” said Zadic.
The government must consider how to hold those platforms accountable. “We can only act strongly if we act in a European and uniform manner,” said Zadic, who also emphasized the importance of the Digital Service Act at EU level.
The question of punishing “hate online” acts is currently being discussed – after Kellermayr’s suicide after online hostilities. The ÖVP advocates setting up a special public prosecutor’s office. The Greens, the prosecutors themselves and other parties reject this – and advocate making more resources available to existing police and judicial institutions.
Zadic wants to expand competence centers
Zadic referred to existing competence centers at the public prosecutor’s offices in Vienna and Graz. Public prosecutors specially trained against cybercrime investigate there. According to Zadic, this offer must be expanded across the board.
Recently, the public prosecutor’s office (StA) Wels, which has only been investigating since last Thursday – six days after Kellermayr’s suicide – again because of dangerous threats with suicide consequences, has moved into the focus of the debate several times.
The procedure of the StA Wels “was checked in the technical supervision and found to be correct,” said Zadic when asked repeatedly about possible misconduct by the StA. “Of course, authorities have to act faster in such cases,” said Zadic.