Data security – Mr. Secretary of State, how protected are we?

„krone“:Is data protection sufficient in Austria?
Florian Turkish: We have very good basic data protection regulations in Europe. With the Data Act, the Digital Market Act and the Digital Service Act coming at European level, we are creating further standards for European data protection, especially when it comes to large US companies.

We are talking about Facebook, Google?
Precisely. We can force them into a European data corset.

Could one not create an Austrian alternative for the American companies?
It would be completely wrong to set up an Austrian social network. I think we learned from Kaufhaus Austria that you can’t force certain things. What we can do: Establish digital sovereignty in Europe. We are creating a European cloud (Gaia-X) where we also ensure that the data remains in Europe. In Lower Austria, a huge Microsoft data center is being built, I think the investment volume is 1.5 billion. They must also comply with European data protection guidelines. There are often rumors that the US and NSA are tapping all the data – thank goodness that is not true and is guaranteed in Europe as well.

When I log in to Facebook, Facebook has my data.
These files are currently being implemented, but it is important that any European user then has the right to request that this data be deleted and cannot be used against their will.

Is this monopolization of the Internet problematic?
Absolute. We need to make sure we’re not digitally dependent on the US, it’s akin to a military dependency. We don’t want that in Europe. We must not come into conflict between: do we want to be with the Americans or with the Asians? The right way is to take care of that and set up your own cloud systems, creating more opportunities for research and innovation.

In terms of fiber optic expansion, we are lagging behind in a European comparison.
That’s correct. Austria was an experimental landscape for the mobile internet, therefore the mobile internet is very well developed and there was no need to expand fiber optics. But now the pressure is there: now everyone wants fiber optic internet because it is more stable. However, Tyrol has come a long way with fiber expansion.

Do you want to invest further?
We had a first broadband billion with 1.1 billion euros.

But there was the problem that the subsidy requirements for MB/second were also achievable with copper cable.
Right, that’s a special problem. But now we’re taking even more money into our hands. This year 1.4 billion euros will be invested.

Use of artificial intelligence is increasing
Are there areas where AI should not be used?
Artificial intelligence must have limits, I am for an ethical approach. Example hospital: An artificial intelligence should never decide whether someone should still be alive or not. A doctor has to make these decisions. But there are also beautiful things, for example with mammograms: it has been shown that the computer, thanks to AI, detects breast cancer better and earlier than the doctor.

Where is AI already being used?
A lot in data analysis. In recognizing possible criminal money flows, especially in the field of crypto, in the field of money laundering.

Does AI run over all account movements?
No! Don’t worry, we don’t have access to that. You look at certain movements in the market.

What about lending?
No, banks should not be given more opportunities to control a person through AI than they already have. Insurance is also very important to me, it shouldn’t be that way.

What do we do in the event of a blackout?
We have blackout plans so we can maintain law and order. We must be aware that the probability of a blackout is greater than not having one. But the state is well prepared, especially in the hydroelectric Tyrol, where an electricity island can be created within a few hours that we can sustain for up to 30 days. But blackouts need to be dealt with very quickly.