
The Bundesamt zur Korruptionsprävention und Korruptionsbekämpfung (Federal Bureau to Prevent and Fight Corruption), abbreviated BAK, was established on January 1, 2010, at the Ministry of the Interior in Austria. The BAK is the succeeding institution of the hitherto existing Büro für Interne Angelegenheiten (Bureau for Internal Affairs) (BIA). It is an independent institution organized outside the section II of the Directorate General for Public Security (GDföS).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Bundesamt zur Korruptionsprävention und Korruptionsbekämpfung |
| Abbreviation | BAK |
| Translation | Federal Bureau to Prevent and to Fight Corruption |
| Parent Organization | Ministry of the Interior |
| Year of Establishment | 2010 |
| Number of Employees | 120 (as of 2017) |
| Responsible for | Violations of the Information Procedure Act, Infidelity by taking advantage of an official position or with the participation of a public official |
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What You'll Learn
- The Bundesamt zur Korruptionsprävention und Korruptionsbekämpfung (Federal Bureau to prevent and fight corruption)
- BAK is an abbreviation of Bundesamt zur Korruptionsprävention
- BAK is responsible for anticipating, preventing and combating corruption
- BAK is organised outside the section II of the Directorate General for Public Security (GDföS)
- BAK is chaired by the Director or, in their absence, the Deputy Director

The Bundesamt zur Korruptionsprävention und Korruptionsbekämpfung (Federal Bureau to prevent and fight corruption)
BAK is organised outside of Section II of the Directorate General for Public Security (GDföS). Its primary responsibility is to anticipate, prevent, and combat corruption. It also works closely with the State Prosecutor against white-collar crime and corruption (Wirtschafts- und Korruptionsstaatsanwaltschaft or WKSta). This includes international police cooperation and assistance with the competent bodies of the European Union and the investigating authorities of EU member states. BAK also has contact persons for OLAF, Interpol, Europol, and other similar international organisations.
BAK is chaired by a Director, or in their absence, a Deputy Director. These roles are appointed by the Interior Minister for a term of five years, following a hearing by the President of the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Administrative Court, and the Supreme Court. The first director of BAK, Andreas Wieselthaler, was appointed on 8 February 2010. As of 2017, BAK employed approximately 120 people.
BAK is responsible for implementing preventive measures to combat corruption. It establishes an integrity commissioner network and trains public service employees to become experts in promoting integrity and preventing corruption. It also conducts investigations related to allegations of misconduct by police officers.
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BAK is an abbreviation of Bundesamt zur Korruptionsprävention
BAK is responsible for the following tasks:
- Close cooperation with the State Prosecutor against white-collar crime and corruption (WKSta).
- International police cooperation, assistance, and cooperation with the competent bodies of the European Union and the investigating authorities of the EU Member States.
- Contact person for OLAF, Interpol, Europol, and other similar international organisations.
- Nationwide responsibility for various offenses, including violations of the Information Procedure Act and infidelity by taking advantage of an official position.
BAK employs approximately 120-150 people and is chaired by a Director, or in their absence, the Deputy Director. These roles are appointed by the Interior Minister for a term of five years, with reappointments possible. The first director of BAK, Andreas Wieselthaler, was appointed on February 8, 2010.
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BAK is responsible for anticipating, preventing and combating corruption
The Bundesamt zur Korruptionsprävention und Korruptionsbekämpfung (Federal Bureau to Prevent and Fight Corruption), abbreviated as BAK and also known as the Federal Bureau of Anti-Corruption, is a bureau within the Federal Ministry of the Interior in Austria. It was established on January 1, 2010, as the succeeding institution of the Bureau for Internal Affairs (BIA).
BAK is primarily responsible for anticipating, preventing, and combating corruption. It works closely with the State Prosecutor against white-collar crime and corruption (WKSta) and international organisations like OLAF, Interpol, and Europol. The bureau is organised outside of Section II of the Directorate General for Public Security (GDföS).
BAK's role in anticipating, preventing, and combating corruption is crucial. Anticipating corruption involves identifying potential risks and proactively managing them. This includes scrutinising projects and working with partners to minimise identified corruption risks, as exemplified by the World Bank Group's approach to fighting corruption. Preventing corruption entails implementing measures to stop it from occurring. For instance, BAK's cooperation with WKSta and international organisations helps prevent corruption through police cooperation, assistance, and collaboration with relevant bodies. Combating corruption refers to actively addressing and mitigating existing corruption. BAK's responsibility in combating corruption involves investigating and taking action against fraudulent activities.
Corruption has far-reaching consequences, particularly impacting the most vulnerable members of society. It undermines trust in governments, erodes institutions of accountability, impedes investment and growth, and perpetuates inequality and discontent. By anticipating, preventing, and combating corruption, BAK plays a vital role in mitigating these negative effects. This includes ensuring integrity in government responses to emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic, where large-scale spending may create opportunities for corruption.
In summary, BAK's responsibility for anticipating, preventing, and combating corruption is essential for maintaining good governance and mitigating the detrimental impacts of corruption on society. Through its efforts, BAK helps to reduce the occurrence and impact of corruption, thereby contributing to a more fair and prosperous society.
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BAK is organised outside the section II of the Directorate General for Public Security (GDföS)
The Bundesamt zur Korruptionsprävention und Korruptionsbekämpfung (Federal Bureau to Prevent and Combat Corruption), abbreviated as BAK, was established on January 1, 2010, at the Ministry of the Interior. It is the succeeding institution of the previously existing Büro für Interne Angelegenheiten (Bureau for Internal Affairs) (BIA). BAK is organised outside the section II of the Directorate General for Public Security (GDföS). It is primarily responsible for anticipating, preventing, and combating corruption.
The Directorate General for Public Security (GDföS) is the governing body of general law enforcement in Austria and a division of the Ministry of the Interior. It oversees the Federal Police, the Criminal Intelligence Service, the Intelligence Directorate, the EKO Cobra, and the Aerial Police. The Directorate General is headquartered in the Palais Modena, Vienna.
The Federal Police is not a government authority but an aggregate of various geographically based police forces. It is organised into nine police directorates, with one for each state, and a dozen autonomous police units. The police directorates are headed by commissioners who report directly to the minister of the interior. The Cobra Special Operations Command, abbreviated EKO Cobra, is the main police tactical unit in Austria.
The Intelligence Directorate, officially the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence (DSN), is the primary civilian security agency in Austria. It was established on December 1, 2021, to replace the BVT service, which failed to prevent the 2020 Vienna attack. The Criminal Intelligence Service is a specialised police agency that investigates certain types of crime and has nationwide criminal operations jurisdiction and about 900 employees.
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BAK is chaired by the Director or, in their absence, the Deputy Director
The Bundesamt zur Korruptionsprävention und Korruptionsbekämpfung (Federal Bureau to Prevent and Fight Corruption), abbreviated as BAK, was established on January 1, 2010, at the Ministry of the Interior. It is chaired by the Director or, in their absence, the Deputy Director. The first director of BAK, Andreas Wieselthaler, was appointed on February 8, 2010, for a term of five years. The Interior Minister makes the appointment after a hearing by the President of the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Administrative Court, and the Supreme Court. Every chargeable avocation is prohibited for the Directorate, except for publications and activities in the field of teaching.
BAK is the succeeding institution of the hitherto existing Büro für Interne Angelegenheiten (Bureau for Internal Affairs) (BIA), which had to be reorganized. It is organized outside of Section II of the Directorate General for Public Security (GDföS) and is primarily responsible for anticipating, preventing, and combating corruption. BAK has approximately 120 employees and works closely with the Wirtschafts- und Korruptionsstaatsanwaltschaft (State Prosecutor against white-collar crime and corruption), abbreviated as WKSta.
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Frequently asked questions
BAK stands for Bundesamt zur Korruptionsprävention und Korruptionsbekämpfung, which translates to Federal Bureau to Prevent and to Fight Corruption.
BAK is responsible for anticipating, preventing, and combating corruption. It is also responsible for violations of the Information Procedure Act and infidelity by taking advantage of an official position.
BAK was established on January 1, 2010, at the Ministry of the Interior. It replaced the Büro für Interne Angelegenheiten (BIA), or Bureau for Internal Affairs.











































