The required reduction of criminal liability is not about ‘locking children in prison’, Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler explains in the krone.tv speech. When it comes to the challenges of anti-Semitism in the country, she sees it as “a marathon, not a sprint.”
Following a terrible case of abuse in Vienna, there was recent discussion about lowering the age of criminal responsibility. According to the minister, this is not about locking up children in prison. Here we know that no one gets better. “It is about linking measures to the era of criminal liability.”
“Sensible and enforceable measures”
There are also countries in Europe that have set the age of criminal responsibility at less than 14 years, such as Switzerland and France. Justice Minister Alma Zadić (Greens) recently rejected the lowering of the age of criminal responsibility and spoke of legislation to initiate it. Edtstadler does not understand this ‘no’ from the Greens. It is necessary to take sensible and enforceable measures here.
On October 7, Pandora’s box was opened with Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israel. Since then we have seen a huge increase in anti-Semitic incidents, especially online.
The Internet must be made into a space that is best for all of us, says Edtstadler. The willingness to take action against anti-Semitism online is also present among the major players on social media, said the politician, who has already clarified the issue in conversations with CEOs. But civil society also needs to be sensitized. Because anti-Semitism is not immediately recognizable as such for everyone, but is hidden in codes, deep fakes, but also conspiracy stories, says Edtstadler.
“Today against Jews, tomorrow against others”
Edtstadler openly admits that reducing anti-Semitism and hate speech to zero is still an illusion. “Yet we must work every day to combat online hate and inform the population. It starts there, but it doesn’t stop there. Today it is against Jews, tomorrow against others.” For a society without hate you have to start with anti-Semitism.
You can see the entire interview with Karoline Edtstadler in the video above!
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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.
