Australian Police Given Power To Use Spyware

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Australian Police Given Power To Use Spyware

Posted by CmdrTaco on Monday December 13, 2004 @07:44AM from the big-brother-actually-is-watching-now dept.

reek writes "An Australian newspaper has reported> that the contentious Surveillance Devices Act has been passed. The act will (according to the article) allow Federal Police to obtain warrants to secretly install spyware onto users computers enabling them to "monitor email, online chats, word processor and spreadsheets entries and even bank personal identification numbers and passwords.""

11 of 450 comments (clear)

Only in ... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-12-13 07:46 · Score: 0, Funny

America .... Ooops

Whats are the Australians trying to do Give America ideas ?

Quick someone stop them
1. Re:Only in ... by khromatikos · 2004-12-13 08:16 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  But I thought the 51st state was the maple leaf state.
Your Honor.... by Moonlapse · 2004-12-13 07:47 · Score: 2, Funny

We caught the defendant logging into marsupialsgonewild.com.....

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- I got my free iPod and a free Nintendo DS....why not
Linux switch... by PincheGab · 2004-12-13 07:48 · Score: 3, Funny

Now this more that anything else will persuade many "normal" (ie, non-tech nerds)) people to switch to Linux...
One cannot trust a closed-source anti-government_spyware program working an a closed-source O/S, but the same perogram implemented as open source running on an open-source O/S? Yeah, much better.
Couldn't this be accomplished... by golfhakker · 2004-12-13 07:53 · Score: 2, Funny

by installing Google Desktop http://desktop.google.com/?
Buy Alcoa stock now! by beef+curtains · 2004-12-13 07:54 · Score: 2, Funny

I get the feeling that Reynolds Wrap sales are going to skyrocket in Australia.

I wonder how those "Crocodile Dundee"-style hats would look when covered with tinfoil....

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Just once I'd like someone to call me 'Sir' without adding 'You're making a scene.'
Re:Great... by Thud457 · 2004-12-13 08:15 · Score: 5, Funny
- You bleeding heart liberal.
- If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.
- Our law enforcement agents aren't fallible and human, they're angelic supermen invulnerable to temptation.
- This will only be used against BAD PEOPLE (You know they're bad because we told you they are).
- Why do you hate Amer^H^H^H Austrailia?!!!
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the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Coming to a Court Room near you... by feloneous+cat · 2004-12-13 08:27 · Score: 3, Funny

"Yer honor he was using Windows and..."

"That's enough for me! I sentence you to life!"

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IANAL, but I've seen actors play them on TV
Re:A Good Thing? by Le+Marteau · 2004-12-13 08:46 · Score: 4, Funny

If I forget my passphrase, no matter how pissed the cops ge, it doesn't really make a difference.

I hope you can still say that when your cellmate starts referring to you as 'Shirley'.

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Mod down people who tell people how to mod in their sigs
Re:What's wrong with the UK and Australia? by FrostedWheat · 2004-12-13 09:00 · Score: 2, Funny

the banning ceremonial swords and toy guns

Ceremonial swords I don't understand, but toy guns I agree with completly. They are horrible things and I for one would be glad to see a lot less of them.
Re:Simple way to work around this by taustin · 2004-12-13 11:49 · Score: 3, Funny

I think you're on to something. Obviously, using Linux will be a sign of criminal intent, so anyone who uses Linux would be a criminal.

And thus, Microsoft will conquer the world.