Austria plans centre Foreign disinformation

Oct 8

Pollak reports that Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger announced in the Bundesrat on Thursday a proposed Austrian centre addressing disinformation from abroad. AUF1 says she did not define what would count as disinformation or foreign influence and reports plans for further details at a Vienna conference the following spring. It identifies Finland's European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats as the model, acknowledges that it has no censorship powers itself, and describes its analyses and recommendations to governments, the EU and NATO as a possible basis for authorities' action against statements.

Beate Meinl-Reisinger announces in Austria's Bundesrat a proposed centre addressing disinformation and foreign influence, with a Vienna conference planned the following spring. AUF1 identifies Finland's hybrid-threat centre as the model, notes it lacks direct censorship powers and criticizes the unspecified definitions and possible downstream governmental action. Establishment, powers and detailed design remain prospective.