New regulation with July

Dispute with the Greens: ÖVP moves away from the citation ban

Minister Edtstadler wanted to enforce a ban on quoting.

(Bild: APA/GEORG HOCHMUTH)

The ÖVP is moving away from the close link between the ban on quoting in non-public investigation proceedings, which Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler has pursued with verve, and the repair of the "media privilege". According to a Constitutional Court ruling, the latter must be revised by July 1 - and this will happen, according to the ÖVP. As a coalition partner, the Greens are putting the brakes on the citation ban.

The core issue is that the Constitutional Court (VfGH) has ruled that exemptions for media companies under the Data Protection Act (DSG) are unconstitutional. Data processing for journalistic purposes may not be exempted from the provisions of the DPA as a matter of principle, as this "media privilege" violates the fundamental right to data protection, according to the Supreme Court. The legislator must now ensure a differentiated regulation by mid-2024.

Negotiations will continue
This is exactly what will happen, even if there is no agreement with the Greens on the citation ban, according to the ÖVP. Negotiations will continue, however, as the two issues are related. They continue to hope for a solution with their coalition partner.

Karner: "Legend"
She had always dealt with these issues separately, said Justice Minister Alma Zadić (Greens) when asked at the press foyer after the Council of Ministers on Wednesday. According to Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP), there is no such thing as a "legend". The citation ban had not found its way into the government program, said Zadić - "we are sticking to it." Work is being done to repair the "media privilege" and editorial confidentiality should be maintained as high and as upright as before.