The Austrian Office for the Protection of the Constitution has issued an urgent warning about Chinese industrial espionage. Small and medium-sized enterprises and research centers are particularly at risk, but the Protection Agency is also critical of the strong presence of Chinese students at Austrian universities.--

The Austrian Office for the Protection of the Constitution is sounding the alarm, as media reports. Chinese espionage activities, particularly in the economic sector, pose a growing threat to the country. According to the latest constitutional protection report, small and medium-sized enterprises and research centers are particularly at risk.

Although many Austrian "hidden champions" can manufacture market-leading products, they do not have an equally high standard of IT security infrastructure, writes the Constitutional Protection Agency. In addition, many small and medium-sized enterprises, start-ups, and research centers lack awareness of their attractiveness for Chinese intelligence services.

In addition to economic espionage, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution is also critical of the strong presence of Chinese students at Austrian universities. The report emphasizes that although many of these institutions and companies produce market-leading products, they often do not have an adequate IT security infrastructure. This makes them worthwhile targets for Chinese hackers, who can easily gain access to sensitive information.

Risks for Austria

Austria occupies a special position in the espionage landscape, as foreign espionage is only punishable here if it is directed against Austrian interests, as reported by ORF. This legal loophole makes the country an attractive target for foreign intelligence services, which can conduct espionage activities against other EU countries from Austria.

The liberal Austrian legal situation and the openness of the scientific and economic system provide China with immense advantages, according to the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. This leads to risks such as the outflow of knowledge and expertise to China, reduced competitiveness, and a possible innovation gap in future-oriented technologies.

The long-term effects of Chinese espionage could mean a considerable loss of prosperity for Austria. The strong presence of Chinese students is also viewed skeptically, as this could lead to a large-scale transfer of knowledge to China. The Office for the Protection of the Constitution is therefore calling for greater awareness and increased measures to protect sensitive information in Austrian companies and universities.