{"id":608,"date":"2026-01-02T14:41:26","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T13:41:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.elstnerlaw.at\/?p=608"},"modified":"2026-01-06T12:27:37","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T11:27:37","slug":"seizure-of-mobile-phones-how-to-proceed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.elstnerlaw.at\/en\/blog\/seizure-of-mobile-phones-how-to-proceed\/","title":{"rendered":"Seizure of Mobile Phones \u2013 How to Proceed?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Notice: This blog post does not replace legal advice and merely reflects the author\u2019s opinion.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Austria, a great deal changed at the end of 2024 due to the amendment of the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure regarding the seizure and evaluation of data on data storage media (in particular mobile phones and laptops). Accused persons in criminal proceedings now have significantly more extensive options for action. However, since the new legal situation has not yet been implemented in part by public prosecutor\u2019s offices and criminal courts, it is urgently recommended to consult a specialised criminal defence lawyer as soon as your mobile phone or laptop has been seized by the criminal police. Swift action is required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previous legal situation <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Until the end of 2024, the criminal police on their own initiative (in case of imminent danger) or the public prosecutor\u2019s office in the event of initial suspicion could, in practice, secure and evaluate data storage media from accused persons virtually without restriction and without judicial review. Mobile phones and laptops contain extremely extensive information about the private life of the persons concerned. The public prosecutor\u2019s office could evaluate the entire content of the mobile phone retroactively without any time limitation (including all images, videos and correspondence stored on it). In practice, this meant that beyond the specific suspicion of an offence, the public prosecutor\u2019s office and the criminal police, in some cases, identified a large number of further allegations from the evaluation of mobile phones through so-called incidental findings. In view of the far-reaching impermissible interference with the fundamental rights of the persons concerned (in particular Art. 8 ECHR, right to privacy), the Constitutional Court annulled the relevant statutory provisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

New legal situation <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On the basis of the new statutory provisions on the seizure and evaluation of data storage media (\u00a7 115a et seq. StPO), the public prosecutor\u2019s office must order or apply for the judicial seizure. Accordingly, judicial review is provided. Against the judicial authorisation, the legal remedy of a complaint to the competent Higher Regional Court is available within fourteen days after service of the authorisation order. In view of the far-reaching interference with fundamental rights, a fundamental-rights complaint to the Supreme Court is also possible within fourteen days after service of the decision of the Higher Regional Court Vienna. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The public prosecutor\u2019s office and the courts are under an obligation to specify both the evaluation period and the number of data categories (such as multimedia, chat correspondence, documents, etc.) in detail, and to substantiate the suspicion of an offence, the evaluation period and the data categories in detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, accused persons have the possibility to participate in the evaluation process carried out by the criminal police, in particular so that data exculpating them is also included in the evaluation report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How should I proceed if my mobile phone is seized by the criminal police? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If data storage media (in particular a mobile phone or laptop) is seized, swift action is urgently required. It is best to consult a specialised defence lawyer immediately. Although the public prosecutor\u2019s office may evaluate data from the devices only where there is an existing suspicion of an offence and only for a limited period, and only after judicial authorisation, the author\u2019s experience from practice at the present time shows a high potential for errors at first instance due to the still very recent legal situation. The problem behind this is that once the authorisation order obtained by the public prosecutor\u2019s office becomes final (14 days after service), it is very difficult, if not impossible, to challenge the allegedly unlawfully evaluated data in court at a later point in time. If defence counsel is engaged only at a later stage, one is therefore often confronted with accomplished facts and must accept incidental findings in the investigation file that were outside the legally permissible evaluation period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based on my practical experience to date, a high likelihood of success in challenging seizure orders has been demonstrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your mobile phone or laptop has been seized by the criminal police in an investigation, contact me as soon as possible by e-mail (office@elstner.law) or via landline (+43150537050). You can also use the immediate assistance hotline (+436641825816); you can reach me there outside office hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In Austria, a great deal changed at the end of 2024 due to the amendment of the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure regarding the seizure and evaluation of data on data storage media (in particular mobile phones and laptops). 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