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Cell phone security: Turquoise-Green continue to disagree

No agreement yet: Justice Minister Alma Zadic (Greens) and Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP)(Bild: APA/GEORG HOCHMUTH)

The new regulation of cell phone security will not be finalized before the National Council meeting next week. The current negotiations have not yet been concluded and will be extended, according to a joint statement from the offices of Justice Minister Alma Zadic (Greens) and Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP). 

The aim is still to achieve a "timely new regulation" by January 1st. The negotiations have been "constructive and intensive" recently, according to the joint statement.

"Decision not possible in September"
However, a resolution on the new regulation on the seizure of data and data carriers in September is "not yet possible due to unresolved issues".

A new regulation is necessary due to the findings of the Constitutional Court (VfGH), according to which the current legal situation regarding the seizure of data carriers violates the right to privacy and the Data Protection Act.

Passages will be repealed at the beginning of 2025
The relevant passages will therefore be repealed at the beginning of 2025. This affects not only the seizure of cell phones and other electronic data carriers, but all objects. Without a corresponding new regulation, no objects may be seized at all from January 1.