The analysis for this report was conducted by Klara Pernsteiner, from the University of Vienna, and Armin Rabitsch, from wahlbeobachtung.org, with contributions from a senior data scientist and two researchers from an Austrian research institute, whose names remain confidential to ensure their safety. This brief is part of the access://democracy project, implemented by Democracy Reporting International and funded by the Mercator Foundation. Its contents do not necessarily represent the position of the Mercator Foundation.
Austria’s 2024 National Council elections marked a historic shift as the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) emerged as the dominant party in the lower house of Parliament for the first time. With 28.8% of the vote, the FPÖ secured 57 out of 183 seats, reflecting broader political realignments and growing support for right-wing narratives in Austria. This election also underscored the increasing influence of social media and messaging platforms in shaping political discourse, particularly among younger voters who engage primarily through digital channels.
Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X played a pivotal role in campaign strategies, but alternative platforms like Telegram gained particular traction. Telegram has become a key communication tool for the FPÖ and right-wing groups, enabling them to bypass traditional media restrictions and amplify narratives around immigration, EU policies, and election integrity. This shift mirrors global trends in digital political communication, where encrypted messaging apps serve as hubs for unfiltered discourse.
Despite concerns over misinformation, Austrian authorities did not detect significant foreign or party-driven disinformation campaigns during the election period. However, the right-wing extremist media channel AUF1 spread allegations of election fraud, warning that postal voting could be manipulated to prevent an FPÖ victory. These claims, while unsubstantiated, gained momentum on social media and messaging platforms, contributing to post-election controversies. FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl echoed these concerns in his speech after the results, reinforcing narratives of election manipulation and exclusion from coalition talks.
The study presented in this report delves into the prevalence of toxicity, hate speech, and extremism in Austrian online spaces during the election period. Toxic speech was the most common type of problematic content on the Telegram channels, followed by hate speech, and then extremism, which appeared less frequently. This suggests that the use of inflammatory and offensive language was widespread, while extreme ideological content was comparatively rare.
Findings reveal that discussions on immigration and ethnicity were common vectors for inflammatory rhetoric, with Telegram emerging as a central platform for far-right discourse. Disinformation narratives surrounding election fraud were also amplified by alternative media and conspiracy theorists, demonstrating the power of social media in shaping public perceptions, even in the absence of direct foreign interference.
Addressing these challenges requires a coordinated effort from policymakers, platforms, and civil society. Recommendations from this report include strengthening content moderation on high-risk channels, improving algorithmic transparency, and enhancing digital literacy programs to equip users with the tools to critically assess online information, as the role of social media in future elections will remain a crucial factor in democratic discourse.
