Austria
Resources
This page is intended to present key information on privacy and genetic research relevant to Austria. It contains links to key Austrian public attitudes surveys and reports from relevant organisations. Please use the contact pages to make any suggestions or to inform us of any new research.
Language of Privacy
In German language the concept of privacy is best translated as privatsphäre (which exactly means private sphere). The private sphere characterises the domain of a person which is not public and guarantees the respect of human dignity and the right to free development of one’s personality.
Eurobarometer
- Directorate General Press and Communication (2005) Social values, science and Technology (Special Eurobarometer 225/ Wave 63.1). EC Directorate General Research. Relevant questions: Q15.a.3, Q17.
- Gaskell, George et al (2006) European and Biotechnology in 2005: Patterns and Trends (Eurobarometer 64.3). London, London School of Economics. A report to the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research. Relevant question: Q5.3.
Relevant Interests Expressed by the Public
Surveys giving some indication of public attitudes towards genetic privacy and/or bio-banking in Austria include:
- Citizen’s conference on the topic “Genetic data: where from, where to, what for?” took place in Vienna, 20-23 June 2003. Organised by Communication Matters for the Austrian Council for Research and Technology Development. (Synopsis from Communication Matters 2003, in German)
- Bogner, A. (2004) Partizipative Politikberatung am Beispiel der BürgerInnenkonferenz 2003 (Analyse). Endbericht, Institut für Technikfolgen-Abschätzung, im Auftrag des Rats für Forschungs- und Technologieentwicklung und des Wiener Wissenschafts- und Technologiefonds. Wien (in German). Report on Citizen’s conference on “Genetic data: where from, where to, what for?”.
- A Discussion forum “Genomics Research and Medicine – What’s MY advantage?”, was also organised within the framework of the GEN-AU-project in Graz, 2004.
- Meili, C. (2004) Evaluationsbericht “Diskurstag Genomforschung und Medizin - Was habe ICH davon?” Stiftung Risiko-Dialog, St. Gallen (in German). Report on “Genomics Research and Medicine – What’s MY advantage?”.
- Bister, M.D. et al. (2009) Refusing the information paradigm. Informed consent, medical research, and patient participation. Health (London) 13, forthcoming. Includes patient interviews and consideration of the donation of left-over tissue for research purposes.
Relevant Interests Expressed in Different Contexts
- A Discussion forum “Discourse Day – Genetic Diagnostics” was organised by the GEN-AU-project (Genetic Research in Austria) of the Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Culture (bm:bwk) and the platform “dialog<>gentechnik” in Vienna, 2002
- Felt, U. et al. (2003) Evaluierung des »Diskurstag Gendiagnostik«. Vienna Interdisciplinary Research Unit for Study of (Techno)Science and Society (in German). Report on “Discourse Day – Genetic Diagnostics”.
- Prainsack, B. (2008). ‘An Austrian Perspective’, in ‘Forum on the Nuffield Report’. BioSocieties 3: 92-7. (Report on DNA Profiling and Forensic Databases).
- PRISE Project (Privacy enhancing shaping of security research and technology – A participatory approach to develop acceptable and accepted principles for European Security Industries and Policies). EC-funded project. Austrian citizens interviewed to investigate their attitude towards privacy and security.
- Čas, J. (2007a) D 5.2 Austrian report - Interview meeting about security technologies and privacy. PRISE - Privacy enhancing shaping of security research and technology.
- Čas, J. (2007b) Annexes to D 5.2 Austrian report - Interview meeting about security technologies and privacy. PRISE (partly in German)
Other Useful Resources
- Bogner, A. and Menz, W. (2005) Alternative Rationalitäten? Technikbewertung durch Laien und Experten am Beispiel der Biomedizin. In: Bora, A. et al. (eds): Technik in einer fragilen Welt. Die Rolle der Technikfolgenabschätzung (in German). Berlin, edition sigma, 383-91.
- Austria data protection information at Privireal
