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AU Government Demands Universal Wiretapping
StonyandCher writes "The Australian government is pushing a bill to force all telecommunications providers to facilitate lawful data interception across fixed and mobile telephone systems, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Instant Messaging (IM) and chat room discussions. Sweeping reforms will make it easier than ever for law enforcement to intercept communications if amendments to the Telecommunications (Interceptions) Act are agreed upon by a Senate standing committee. This follows from a story earlier this week where the Australian government is legislating to allow employers to snoop on employees' email and IM conversations."
Nobody...
This is why it is so important that we in the US fight for ALL of our rights, however trivial they may seem. Because once one is taken away, the rest soon follow...
"Know but never fear the consequences of your actions."
including the all of the governments of the world, whats good for the goose is good for the gander & vis/versa...
Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
This sounds just like the USA CALEA program.
Your mind is clear / The things that you fear / Will fade with how much you / Believe what you hear
"We have always been at war with Oceania."
@ Title: Now, I hardly think anyone's going to start an armed revolution over THIS. Armed revolutions are for when democracy fails (some might argue this has already happened, but that's another can of beans) or the government does something that is universally dispised - otherwise, the best way to announce your objection is to vote on it. If anything, having guns makes the situation worse, because it gives the illusion that people have a "nuclear option" - when really, they don't (I would imagine that the government/army would win in a fight vs the people). As an Australian, I'm glad the guns have been taken away - we have few real reasons for them (you can get gun permits for hunting), and they otherwise do more harm than good.
But good point about fighting for your rights, it's just a terrible shame so few people are passionate AND informed enough to understand the implications of potential laws and not just the PR-wrapper ("Won't Somebody Please Think Of The Children").
Commodore64_love: I don't comprehend people who're so frightened of death that they'll bankrupt themselves to stay alive
"Reform"
NewSpeak alert.
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
Chances all this power will never be abused? 0%
Chances some of this power will be abused? 100%
Chances it's going to improve the quality of life for the average Australian? 0%
Seems like voting NO is a no-brainer here.
So how is a gun going to protect you when the goverment can bomb you from miles away or 30,000 feet?
"Go into the hall of mirrors and have a bloody hard look at yourself" - HG Nelson
the land of the Criminals.
Such a fine line between +5 Funny and -1 Flamebait.
To me this is simply insulting. Guess it comes down to which side of the fence you sit on and safetly in numbers.
Since the gun control debate has already surfaced as the supposed reason Australians are facing the prospect of unrestricted government wire tapping, I think I'll take my criminal ancestry, sit back on my Aussie arse...cop the insult on the chin, turn the TV on to COPS or 48 Hours and watch some pro-gun Americans shoot each other.
Hows that Patriot Act working out for y'all BTW ?
Seriously, I can see that you obviously have no military experience, but that comment is pretty ignorant even for a run-of-the-mill civilian. Give your head a shake. The airforce may be able to destroy shit in a spectacular fashion, but only men with guns can actually hold ground. You can't occupy a piece of land from 30,000 feet, no matter how many bombs you have.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penal_colony
in fact, North America was a dumping ground for scum for 150 years, versus only 75 for Australia. Explains a lot really.