The Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) has social media presences as @FMA_AT (Twitter) and FMA Finanzmarktaufsicht Österreich (LinkedIn). Tweets and posts are considered as communications from the FMA’s “Executive Board Affairs and Public Relations” and “Human Resources and Strategic Organisation” divisions respectively.
The Austrian Financial Market Authority has taken a conscious decision to open “@FMA_AT” and “FMA Finanzmarktaufsicht Österreich” as additional communications channels for information about its duties and activities. The FMA is however required to use social media in accordance with its mandate as a supervisory authority and the applicable underlying legal conditions. This applies in particular with regard to official secrecy, and specifically means for @FMA_AT and FMA Finanzmarktaufsicht Österreich:
- Other conventional forms of communications of the FMA’s “Executive Board Affairs and Public Relations” and “Human Resources and Strategic Organisation” divisions shall also apply: the FMA will by definition not comment on individual legal measures taken by the FMA, and will not take part in discussions about them on social media. Furthermore, the FMA is unable to provide any legal advice through its social media channels.
- Media enquiries as a result require more substantial answers than social media permits. Media representatives are therefore required to continue to address their enquiries through the traditional channels by telephone and e-mail directly to the Media Relations Officer. Such media enquiries will only be replied to on social media in exceptional cases.
- The FMA only follows other institutions or individuals on a case-by-case basis. The fact that the FMA does follow someone on social media does not constitute any form of an endorsement and does not constitute a close relationship to the FMA.
- Please understand that the FMA, as a rule, does not respond to direct messages (DMs). Available resources do not permit this.
- Direct messages sent to our social media profiles do not constitute an official form of establishing contact with the FMA. This also applies for parties of proceedings with the FMA.
- Written submissions to the authority shall not be accepted via social media.