Business and danger

How states intercept encrypted cell phone messengers

Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) is calling for new ways of monitoring messengers following the thwarting of a terrorist attack at the subsequently canceled Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna.(Bild: APA/EVA MANHART)

Following the thwarting of an attack on the Taylor Swift concert in Vienna, which was subsequently canceled, the Ministry of the Interior is promoting the idea of looking into encrypted chats on cell phones in order to expose extremists. To do this, the device would have to be infected with spyware. Krone+ reveals how this works, the risks involved - and who supplies such tools.

Following the thwarting of an act of terrorism at the subsequently canceled Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) sent a draft law for increased surveillance of encrypted messengers for review within a few days. A decision before the election is unlikely, but even after that the leadership of the People's Party wants to advocate messenger surveillance and even make it a condition of the coalition. For some it would be a deal, for others a threat.