On the anniversary of the liberation of Mauthausen concentration camp, President of the National Council Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP) warned of a “new pandemic of disinformation and manipulation” at the parliamentary memorial meeting against violence and racism on Friday. So far there is no immunization against this.
You have to counter this through the education and regulation of artificial intelligence and social media platforms. Since Corona, the discourse has become more aggressive, the parliament speaker stated in his speech. Apparently, the ability to reach consensus and find value in compromise has been lost.
“Demonization of minorities”
Polarization, conspiracy theories and fake news are spread through social media, which also fuels the demonization of minorities. If, according to surveys, more than ten percent of Austrians are manifestly anti-Semitic and more than 30 percent are latent, then that is a worrying picture.
You have to counter this through education, but also through the regulation of artificial intelligence, algorithms and anonymous social media platforms. These areas need European and national approval procedures as soon as possible: “The digital skills of future generations will be decisive in using the technological possibilities for and not against democracy.”
Kovacs: “Learn the right lessons from history”
Federal Council President Günter Kovacs (SPÖ) also emphasized almost word for word with Sobotka that you have to resist at the beginning and be vigilant if there are attacks on “our democracy and our values”. One must draw the correct and necessary lessons from history. This includes consistently fighting anti-Semitism and all forms of racism.
The club presidents of the SPÖ, FPÖ, Greens and NEOS, as well as the presidency of the National Council, came to the event in the historic conference room. The government was represented by Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens), Constitutional Affairs Minister Karoline Edtstadler and Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (both ÖVP). Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen was excused. He is in Britain for the coronation of King Charles.
Attacks on FPÖ
As part of a moderated discussion, the author and philosopher Michel Friedman sharply attacked the FPÖ without naming them. He spoke literally of ‘anti-democrats’ and of election campaigns in which people were incited against each other and human dignity was trampled underfoot. At the same time, he recalled that the ÖVP had formed a coalition with the PVV twice. FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl considered the statements shaking his head.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
