Austrian Institute for Applied Telecommunications (OIAT)

Name

Austrian Institute for Applied Telecommunications (OIAT)

Legal name

Österreichisches Institut für angewandte Telekommunikation (ÖIAT)

Website

https://oiat.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Consumer Protection Services

NAICS

Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (51929)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Trust, Safety & Risk Support (Fraud, Abuse, Policy Enforcement) (BPAAABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marketplace & E-commerce Trust & Safety (Listings, Sellers, Reviews) (BPAAALAB), Content Moderation, Safe Messaging & Classroom Communication Safety (EDAFALAE), Risk Intelligence, Threat Monitoring & Crisis Response (Harmful trends, coordinated abuse) (BPAAALAN)

Keywords

• Consumer dispute resolution
• Digital media literacy
• Online fraud detection
• E-commerce certification
• Internet safety education

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Project-Based Funding: OIAT is financed solely through projects. Major funding sources include EU programs (Digital Europe Programme), FFG (Austrian Research Promotion Agency), KIRAS security research program, and various Austrian federal ministries (Bundeskanzleramt, BMB, BMI, BMASGPK, BMF, BMWET). Additional funding from netidee, WWTF, and regional governments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The ÖIAT is a non-profit applied research institute that operates consumer-facing digital safety services and conducts project-based research and education for Austrian consumers, schools, seniors, and businesses. Its core offerings include free consumer dispute resolution (Internet Ombudsstelle), an AI-powered fake shop browser extension (Fake-Shop Detector), a media literacy initiative (Saferinternet.at), a fraud information platform (Watchlist Internet), and an e-commerce trustmark certification (Österreichisches E-Commerce-Gütezeichen), all aimed at promoting competent, safe, and responsible use of digital media.

Product overview

The Austrian Institute for Applied Telecommunications (ÖIAT) operates as a non-profit research institute offering a portfolio of interconnected digital safety and consumer protection products and services. The core offerings include the Fake-Shop Detector (AI-powered browser extension for fraud detection), Saferinternet.at (media literacy initiative), Internet Ombudsstelle (consumer dispute resolution), Watchlist Internet (fraud information platform), Österreichisches E-Commerce-Gütezeichen (e-commerce certification), and digitaleSenior:innen (digital inclusion for seniors). Supporting these are the ÖIAT Academy (educational webinars and workshops), ÖIAT Research (research project platform), and specialized tools like the Saferinternet-Chatbot. The products function as complementary initiatives within a unified ecosystem focused on digital safety, consumer protection, and media literacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Saferinternet.at: Initiative for the safe use of Internet, mobile phones and digital media through the promotion of media literacy, forming the Austrian Safer Internet Centre together with Stopline and Rat auf Draht.
• Internet Ombudsstelle
• Watchlist Internet
• Österreichisches E-Commerce-Gütezeichen
• digitaleSenior:innen
• Fake-Shop Detector
• ÖIAT Academy
• ÖIAT Research

Products and services

• Fake-Shop Detector A browser-based tool that uses artificial intelligence to analyze online shops in real-time and warn consumers about fraudulent websites by displaying risk scores as icons in the browser address bar.
• Saferinternet.at An initiative promoting safe, competent, and responsible use of digital media through awareness campaigns, providing tips and resources on topics including social networks, cyberbullying, information literacy, and artificial intelligence.
• Internet Ombudsstelle A state-recognized consumer dispute resolution body offering free out-of-court mediation and advice on online contracts, data protection, copyright, and social media law.
• Watchlist Internet An independent information platform documenting internet fraud cases and scam-like online traps, providing prevention tips and warning lists published by AI-detected fake shops.
• Österreichisches E-Commerce-Gütezeichen A certification seal for trustworthy Austrian online shops based on European quality standards, with annual re-certification and verification procedures.
• Servicestelle digitaleSenior:innen A service center supporting educational institutions and trainers in digital education for seniors, offering free consultation, training programs, and a 'Senior:innen-Trainer:in' certification course.
• ÖIAT Academy

Quantifiable outcome

• 34,069 internet fraud cases handled in 2023 with 23.3% year-over-year increase
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• ACR (Austrian Cooperative Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOIAT is a member of ACR, Austria's network of innovation companions for SMEs. ACR institutes play a key role as brokers between large companies, the research community, and Austrian SMEs.
• AIT (Austrian Institute of Technology)coreTechnology or IntegrationResearch partner for AI/ML-based fraud detection projects including KOSOH (machine learning for fake shop classification) and MAL2 (neural networks for malicious content detection).
• X-NETsupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner contributing to Fake-Shop Detector and MAL2 projects with expertise in cybersecurity and fraud detection.
• Arbeiterkammer (AK) ÖsterreichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial partner co-supporting E-Commerce Gütezeichen since 2000 and collaborating on consumer protection webinars and educational programs.
• Wirtschaftskammer Österreich (WKO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness chamber supporting E-Commerce Gütezeichen certification and promoting trusted online commerce in Austria.
• INSAFE (European Safer Internet Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean network coordination for safer internet awareness. OIAT participates in Steering Committee; shares best practices with other national Safer Internet Centres.
• StoplinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTogether with Stopline (reporting point for sexual abuse content and national socialist reactivation online) and Rat auf Draht (emergency helpline for children and youth), forms the Safer Internet Centre Austria.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Scamadviser: Algorithmic fake-shop and scam-website detection tool with risk scoring for e-commerce sites. Operates the closest pure-play product analog to ÖIAT's Fake-Shop Detector browser extension.
• klicksafe.de: Germany's national Safer Internet Centre under the EU INSAFE network, delivering digital literacy, safer-internet awareness campaigns, and educator resources. Operates the closest parallel program to ÖIAT's Saferinternet.at in the DACH region.
• Internet Watch Foundation (IWF): UK-based hotline and reporting body for online child sexual abuse and criminal content, recognized as a Trusted Flagger under the DSA. Shares ÖIAT's role as a trusted intermediary for internet safety reporting and platform cooperation.
• jugendschutz.net: German federal reporting centre for harmful content affecting minors online, operating under a government mandate. Directly comparable to ÖIAT's Safer-Internet-Fachstelle digitaler Kinderschutz offering.
• Stopline: Austrian reporting hotline for child sexual abuse imagery and Nazi reactivation content, co-partner with ÖIAT in the Safer Internet Centre Austria. Closely aligned mission and funding profile.

Broad incumbents

• Trustpilot: Global consumer review and trust platform for online businesses, including shop legitimacy signals. Compares to ÖIAT's E-Commerce-Gütezeichen certification in enabling trust between consumers and online retailers, but at vastly greater commercial scale.
• Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (vzbv): Federation of German consumer protection organisations providing policy advocacy, dispute resolution, and consumer education. Comparable in mission to ÖIAT's Internet Ombudsstelle and Watchlist Internet at a larger national scale.
• NCMEC CyberTipline: US reporting mechanism operated by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, focused on online exploitation of children with government and platform cooperation. Comparable mission and Trusted Flagger-style role, at a much larger national scale.
• Better Business Bureau (BBB): North American non-profit focused on business trust and reliability standards, including online retailer accreditation. Closest scaled equivalent to ÖIAT's E-Commerce-Gütezeichen trustmark model.

Others

• Wirtschaftskammer Österreich (WKO) E-Commerce Platform: Austrian federal chamber of commerce, an institutional partner to ÖIAT in delivering the E-Commerce-Gütezeichen certification. Acts as an enabler/distributor of trust infrastructure rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/saferinternetat
• Facebookfacebook.com/saferinternetat
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oeiat
• Instagraminstagram.com/saferinternet.at

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Austrian Institute for Applied Telecommunications (OIAT)