Austria Strengthens Police Intelligence To Counter Terrorists By Invading Citizens Privacy....

Austrian parliament has adopted a new security bill giving the police intelligence service broader powers to investigate potential terrorists and extremists.

A report on Wednesday in Vienna explained that under the new law, investigators would be allowed to preventively collect communication and telephone data based on the mere suspicion that someone might plan against Austria’s constitutional order.

It said apart from terrorists, the law also extended to incitement to violence, as well as the formation of armed ideological or religious groups.

The report disclosed that the law was supported by legislators from the ruling coalition of Social Democrats and the centre-right People’s Party.

“The Greens and the far-right Freedom Party opposed the legislation.

Meanwhile, the privacy activists said the law contains no adequate oversight mechanism to control investigators.”