Photo and PA LR Hattmannsdorfer: Executive needs tools to combat cybercrime and radicalization in the digital space

LR Hattmannsdorfer: Executive needs tools to combat cybercrime and radicalization in the digital space

Cyber ​​​​Crime Training Center (CCTC) as a response to police challenges in the digital space – Police need messenger monitoring as a modern investigative tool

Crime and radicalization are increasingly shifting to the digital space. Cybercrime is one of the areas that has grown the most in crime statistics. In addition, the digital space is becoming a breeding ground for radicalization. State Councilor for Integration Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, together with State Police Director Andreas Pilsl, therefore visited the Cyber ​​​​Crime Training Center (CCTC) in the State Police Directorate and advocated for increased police powers in the digital space.

“We must prevent the digital space from becoming a digital parallel world in which law and order no longer apply.” The police therefore also need the appropriate powers to investigate there in the form of messenger surveillance. This is not about the broad surveillance of holiday photos on WhatsApp, but about a way to deal with suspected serious terrorist crimes with judicial approval. “This possibility must be created quickly in the next legislative period”said the State Councillor.

“The police have the highest levels of trust. It is therefore legitimate that the police also have options that correspond to the current state of technology in order to be able to operate successfully. “Nobody questions telephone surveillance, which has long been possible within narrow legal limits,” adds State Police Director Andreas Pilsl. He has long been advocating the possibility of the police being given investigative powers for messenger services such as WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram.

Cybercrime Training Center is a pioneering project in Austria
The CCTC in Linz is Austria's first training center for police officers. Participants learn in various modules how different digital applications can help solve crimes. Participants are trained over four days with seven individual modules by two trainers, providing basic knowledge of all aspects of cybercrime, including advanced modules. The police are cooperating with the HTL Leonding and the JKU.