From 1 January 2025 new federal rules apply in the area of the seizure of data carriers such as mobile phones or laptops and data: Article 1 Bundesgesetz, mit dem die Strafprozeßordnung 1975, das Staatsanwaltschaftsgesetz, das Gerichtsorganisationsgesetz, das Finanzstrafgesetz, das Justizbetreuungsagentur-Gesetz und das Allgemeine Verwaltungsverfahrensgesetz 1991 geändert werden (Strafprozessrechtsänderungsgesetz 2024) - https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/eli/bgbl/I/2024/157.

The rules were necessary because the Constitutional Court, in its ruling G 352 2021 of 14 December 2023, declared the existing rules, which permitted the securement of mobile phones (mobile data carriers) in criminal proceedings without prior judicial authorization, to be unconstitutional due to the violation of data protection and the right to privacy and repealed them with effect from 1 January 2025. In future, prior judicial authorization will be mandatory.

In general, the seizure of such data carriers is to be separated from the seizure of other objects as a new investigative measure. The previous possibility of confiscating mobile phones for material purposes and selective data from public spaces, such as images from surveillance cameras, without judicial consent is maintained. The seizure of data in the cloud or other servers is also permitted. Narrowly defined exemptions from prior judicial consent are possible in cases of imminent danger. The exploitation of random finds continues to be permitted, although access is limited to the extent of the data authorized by the court. The criminal investigation department and the public prosecutor's office only have access to data that corresponds to the court authorization. Furthermore, the possibility for the accused and victims to participate in the selection of significant facts and the corresponding information obligations of the authorities are also specified.