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Aussie Gov't Says Wiretap Laws Fine, Telcos 'Wrong'

Posted by timothy on from the honestly-what-are-you-worried-about dept.

mask.of.sanity writes "A top bureaucrat from the Australian Attorney-General's department has said telcos are wrong to complain about changes to the country's wiretapping laws, which will force them to report every product and network system change to law enforcement for approval, lest they affect the ability to intercept communications. The telcos argue there are simply too many products and network architecture changes to report and that it would become overbearing. It's the latest in a string of changes to communications law in the country, and comes as the government mulls data retention and the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement."

5 of 127 comments (clear)

  1. Soft Tyranny by causality · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Soft tyranny -- it's for your protection!

    --
    It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education. - Einstein
  2. Fight Back! by Afforess · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If forced to store conversations, transcribe them into a paper format, print them out, delete the digital copies, and keep a large paper archival system, for the government's perusal. Then use the cost of that as a tax writeoff.

    --
    If our elected representatives no longer represent us, do we still live in a Democracy?
    1. Re:Fight Back! by bloodhawk · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Costing yourself many times the amount to get a fraction of it back as a tax writeoff is hardly fighting back. That's like shooting yourself in the leg to protest the poor medical health system in order to put more pressure on the system.

  3. Got nothing to hide, but must still wear clothes. by VortexCortex · · Score: 5, Insightful

    From TFA:

    Australian Federal Police, ... noted that "there is nothing worse than to see criminals escape conviction because of technology"

    Nothing worse? How about treating the populous like criminals even though they are innocent? If this doesn't qualify as worse to you, then you shouldn't be in law-enforcement or politics.

    I just loathe the line of thinking exhibited by the police.

    Cars are technology that help the vast majority of escaping criminals escape. Perhaps they all need tracking devices installed so that we know where everyone is going at all times.

    Books convey technical information that may help a criminal escape. We should pass a law requiring all books read to be reported to the police as well.

    Some rapists use condom technology to escape without leaving their DNA! Citizens should be required to keep a condom log detailing the time and date of each condom purchase and use.

  4. Re:Why does it seem like by sjames · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Technically, the U.S. isn't really going towards nanny state as that would imply an element of taking care of people rather than just watching them. It's more a Mommy Dearest state really.