Austria’s justice minister, Anna Sporrer, has called for stricter laws to address a growing gap in the country’s sexual crime legislation specifically the handling of videos that document acts of rape.
Speaking on national radio on Monday, Sporrer said she supports making the mere possession of such material a criminal offense. The issue will be examined by a government working group set to begin in the autumn, as part of a broader effort to strengthen protections for victims, according to ORF News.
At present, victim protection groups say Austrian law does not clearly criminalize the possession of rape recordings, creating what they describe as a serious legal blind spot. Sporrer agreed that this gap must be closed.
“Violence against women is unacceptable,” she said, adding that she will work closely with the minister for women’s affairs to ensure stronger safeguards. The goal, she stressed, is to extend legal protection not only to children, as is already the case, but also to adult victims whose abuse is recorded and shared.
The Green Party has also pushed for reform, calling for a specific criminal offense covering both the possession and distribution of such recordings. Women’s affairs spokesperson Meri Disoski said Austria needs clearer laws to address this form of abuse.
The debate has gained urgency following recent international investigations. Earlier this month, “Operation Medusa,” a cross-border probe into an abuse network, uncovered more than 100 men accused of drugging their partners, sexually assaulting them, and filming the acts. According to Europol, the case revealed the scale of organized exploitation, although Austrian authorities confirmed there is no direct link to Austria.
At the same time, a separate case in the western state of Tyrol has raised fresh concerns. A 44 year-old man is under investigation for allegedly drugging and raping his partner, and possibly others, on multiple occasions. Prosecutors say there is also suspicion that photos and videos of the assaults were produced. The suspect is currently in pre-trial detention.
