Special unit for observation

The special unit for observation ( SEO ) is a special unit of the Austrian police , which was founded on July 1st, 1998. The legal basis is the Ordinance on Special Units, which is based on the Security Police Act . The SEO is directly subordinate to the General Director for Public Security (meanwhile the Director of the Federal Criminal Police Office ), and it is responsible for the implementation of optical or acoustic surveillance in the context of large and small eavesdropping and spying attacks . Their tasks also include anti-eavesdropping, which means preventing secrets from being scouted out by means of technical measures within the framework of organized crime, which requires the use of high-quality technology. This modern technology is also available to SEO and, when used, is subject to legal requirements and the control of the legal protection officer of the judiciary.

Web links

• Special units regulation in the legal information system of the Republic of Austria (RIS)
• Information about SEO on the Ministry of Interior's website
• Opinion of the Court of Auditors on SEO