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Australian Gov't Drops Plan To Snoop On Internet Use — For Now

Posted by timothy on from the condense-to-just-prevent-debate dept.

CuteSteveJobs writes "Australian Attorney-General Nicola Roxon has been forced to back down on her government's unpopular plan to force ISPs to store the web history and social networking of all Australians for two years. The plan has been deeply unpopular with the public, with hackers attacking the government's spy agency. Public servants at the spy agency promoting the scheme been scathing of the government, saying: 'These reforms are urgently needed to deal with a rapidly evolving security environment, but there isn't much appetite within the government for anything that attracts controversy,' but a document on the scheme released under the Freedom of Information Act had 90% of it redacted to prevent 'premature unnecessary debate.' Roxon hasn't dropped the unpopular scheme entirely, but only delayed it until after the next election."

67 comments

  1. The Internet Needs to be Policed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    These days a lot of our actions, interactions, and transactions are conducted over the Internet.
    Why shouldn't they be policed like if these activities were done physically?
    After all, you can't just do whatever the hell you want in the street without expecting law enforcement to watch and patrol for your and others safety. It should not be a free for all on the Internet.

    I welcome as much "snooping" as much as possible online. As a parent with young children, I know there are predators and con artists out there on the Internet and I would hope the authorities are there to protect me and my loved ones.

    1. Re:The Internet Needs to be Policed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Whoever moderated this -1 Overrated is clearly violating the moderation rules. It is clear -1 Overrated is for posts that have been already moderated. At the time, it had not. These is clearly done to prevent metamod, and to shut down clearly an ontopic opinion which the moderator did not agree, another violation. I see this quite often with opinions that do not jibe with the groupthink on this site.

      Whoever did this should have all moderation privileges revoked because of these clear violations. I will be contacting the site editors on this matter.

    2. Re:The Internet Needs to be Policed by bruno.fatia · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I had already moderated on this topic but after reading this post I felt like whoever mod parent down was -1, Disagree.

      I understand OP point of view but with something as global as the Internet why should one government or another regulate it?
      Either give it to the UN or better, don't regulate it at all. Why should US cops snoop on data that comes from say, Latin America to Canada?
      I think that from now on we should be standardizing encryption because the overhead it causes IS worth it.

    3. Re:The Internet Needs to be Policed by fustakrakich · · Score: 2

      You're right. Overrated is the wrong mod (well, not entirely). The post was definitely troll/flamebait/redundant. If you don't like the internet, cancel your service. Trash your computer, and buy a typewriter, calculator, Rolodex, some stamps, and a box of envelopes. Don't forget to get a checkbook from your bank.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    4. Re:The Internet Needs to be Policed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "I welcome as much "snooping" as much as possible online"

      You're a sheep and an idiot.

      It is genuinely tragic that you have ( apparently ) reproduced.

    5. Re:The Internet Needs to be Policed by slashrio · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Clearly one of those trollers hired by governments and spin-doctoring opinion agencies, which by the way are also hired by the government (or by whomever wants to influence public opinion).
      Those people are paid to monitor blogs and step in with their 'opinion' whenever there is a controversial subject going on on which the one who hires them wants the opinion to be favourable to his own interests.
      Saw the same happening lately on projectcensored.org: someone claiming to be totally innocent and proclaimed he totally trusted Google with all his personal data and wouldn't mind if it were used for anything Google and its affiliates wanted, as long as service remained free of charge. (puke) Anyway, clearly nobody with that kind of personality would never ever visit a website like projectcensored.org, so that was clearly one of 'those' 'mercenaries'.

      --
      "Trump!!", the new Godwin.
    6. Re:The Internet Needs to be Policed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      So in other words, you're one of those people that had kids and lost all sense of reason (or you just never had a sense of reason) and now you're falling for every "give up your freedom to save the children" call. It's truly tragic when that happens. You're really not making the rest of us parents look good. I honestly hope you were just trolling.

      No, I don't want to give up my freedom or privacy to save the children from some (nonexistent) threat. Come up with a scheme that doesn't punish everyone. Since you're always, always thinking of the children, that should be simple for you.

    7. Re:The Internet Needs to be Policed by slashrio · · Score: 1

      It is genuinely tragic that you have ( apparently ) reproduced.

      Don't worry, his genes will be culled at the next 'big event'

      --
      "Trump!!", the new Godwin.
    8. Re:The Internet Needs to be Policed by martin-boundary · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Whoever moderated this -1 Overrated is clearly violating the moderation rules. It is clear -1 Overrated is for posts that have been already moderated. At the time, it had not. These is clearly done to prevent metamod, and to shut down clearly an ontopic opinion which the moderator did not agree, another violation. I see this quite often with opinions that do not jibe with the groupthink on this site.

      That's the problem with policing the internet. You get parties who believe there should be rules that they invent, that may have nothing to do with the rules that are already in place on a particular forum. And these parties decide to police their new rules everywhere they think that those rules should be applied.

    9. Re:The Internet Needs to be Policed by Merls+the+Sneaky · · Score: 4, Insightful

      How about do some fucking parenting. Do not expect the government to trash everything others enjoy to do it for you?

      As a father of a ten year old son I allow him free access to the internet. I do that because I have taught him the "rules" of the internet, and I trust him to do the right thing. I constantly monitor his usage and have NEVER had to have an uncomfortable conversation about his activities using it. This is after six years of him having net access.

      I do not filter anything, because I actively parent. Maybe you should try it before advocating government spying on it's populace without warrant or cause.

    10. Re:The Internet Needs to be Policed by Merls+the+Sneaky · · Score: 1

      How about try some fucking parenting before advocating government snooping.

      As the father of a ten year old son I have an unfiltered connection that he has free access to. Am I worried? Not in the slightest, I monitor his usage and have never been forced to have an uncomfortable conversation (I am not afraid of uncomfortable conversations either) about his activities. Maybe that's because i taught him the "rules" to follow.

      His birthday is in two weeks and he will be getting (and building) his own computer. It also will not have any "filtering" of any sort. I am still unconcerned, because his computer will be approximately four feet from mine.

      We plan on playing Saints Row the third together. Some people would think that game is inappropriate for a ten year old boy, For some ten year olds it might be, I have no problems explaining adult concepts to him. It prepares him for life outside my pocket.

    11. Re:The Internet Needs to be Policed by Merls+the+Sneaky · · Score: 1

      Strange /. lost my post and now I have a double post, sorry about that.

    12. Re:The Internet Needs to be Policed by Dr+Damage+I · · Score: 3, Insightful

      This is nonsense. If I have a conversation with someone, the government has no right to a transcript of that discussion regardless of whether that discussion takes place in my home, a cafe, a public street or on an internet forum. The government cannot bug my home without a court order and the internet should be no different. The government already has the ability to search through the publicly accessible areas of the internet for information about my activities and this is analogous to law enforcement "watching and patrolling". What you are proposing is analogous to allowing police to randomly search peoples homes because a lot of our actions, interactions and transactions are conducted in our homes.

      As a parent, the responsibility to protect your children is yours not mine. If you find the internet to be so hazardous that you are unable to properly protect them, don't allow them to use it. Easy.

      --
      "Cursed is he who rises early in the morning..." Isiah 5:11
    13. Re:The Internet Needs to be Policed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As a parent of young children, I hope you're aware that they're far more likely to be the victim of abuse from someone you already know, in the real world.

      It's almost never a stranger over the Internet, and almost always someone you know and trust.

    14. Re:The Internet Needs to be Policed by crutchy · · Score: 1

      the same could be said about anyone's reaction to drunk drivers... don't drive a car, or maybe about the threat of street violence... don't go out on the streets; maybe your solution to the problem of the raping of women is to banish all women

    15. Re:The Internet Needs to be Policed by crutchy · · Score: 1

      surely a country's government has the right to snoop on its own shores. china already does it. eventually all supposedly "modernised" countries will get the jist. anyone THAT concerned with privacy needs to look at what they are doing on the net, and look at why they don't do similar things in society (ie compare watching internet porn to hiring a porn movie from a movie rental store). if you don't like the idea of the government finding out about your porn habits, you would be complaining about the same loss of privacy that prevents you from hiring a porn film from a rental store (or maybe its the prospect of your neighbors finding out about your porn habits)... in any case, policing the internet has no more privacy issues than policing the rest of society

      if a governmnt gets caught snooping traffic with a foreign destination, i guess there's going to have to be some kind of international agreement otherwise every case may be deemed an act of war (most extreme cases involving downloads of justin bieber songs, which may be considered weapons of cochleae destruction)

    16. Re:The Internet Needs to be Policed by Dan541 · · Score: 1

      Says the person posting as AC.

      --
      An SQL query goes to a bar, walks up to a table and asks, "Mind if I join you?"
    17. Re:The Internet Needs to be Policed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      *I* did. The poster thought he was being a clever reverse troll, and I saw right through him.

  2. 90% of it redacted... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "90% of it redacted to prevent "premature unnecessary debate."

    Democracy at its finest....

    1. Re:90% of it redacted... by deergomoo · · Score: 2

      It's quite disgusting really.

    2. Re:90% of it redacted... by davester666 · · Score: 2

      It's only a billion times more open than the US's IP treaty negotiation policy, which is 100% redaction.

      --
      Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
    3. Re:90% of it redacted... by TubeSteak · · Score: 3, Insightful

      That is exactly how bad laws get railroaded through the process.

      "More specifically, it is information concerning the development of government policy which has not been finalised, and there is a strong possibility that the policy will be amended prior to public consultation," [The Attorney-General's Department legal officer, FoI and Privacy Section, Claudia Hernandez] wrote.

      The problem with this statement is that, if the first time you get to have input on a law is during the public consultation period, it's too late.
      By that point, months if not years of work and lobbying have gone into the legislation.
      That's why the flameouts of SOPA and PIPA were so shocking to the copyright lobby.

      --
      [Fuck Beta]
      o0t!
    4. Re:90% of it redacted... by vlad30 · · Score: 3, Informative

      No surprise its a extremely left wing government democracy privacy and what voters want is last on there list of priorities. Additionally "after the next election" also means her successor will have to deal with it, she will be lucky to keep her seat let alone her current job.

      --
      Your'e all thinking it, I just said it for you
    5. Re:90% of it redacted... by 1u3hr · · Score: 0

      its a extremely left wing government democracy privacy and what voters want is last on there list of priorities.

      "Extremely left wing"? Compared to General Pinochet, possibly. In the real world, slightly left of centre. Australia hasn't had a real left wing government since 1975

      Would an "extremely left wing" government kowtow to the US so consistently?

    6. Re:90% of it redacted... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Right now we have a choice between a raving right wing lunatic and Tony Abbot.

  3. hi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

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  4. Good by deergomoo · · Score: 1

    Good to see the right thing has been done, for now at least.

  5. aaaaa by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    Bitkisel termojenik ya yakc özellikli Maurers, kat diyetler yapp bünyenizi ypratmadan, sadece salkl beslenerek, rahatlkla kilo vermeniz için gelitirilmi edilmi benzersiz bir formüldür. Ya yakmaya yardmc, metabolizma hzn düzenleyici ve sindirim sistemi sorunlar için en iyi bitkileri içeriinde barndran Maurers kapsülleri ile kilo vermek sandnzdan çok daha rahat olabilir!
    Hzl ve etkili ya yakc termojenik özelliinin yan sra itahnz kapatarak yemek yeme arzunuzu en aza indiren bu ürünle açlk hissetmeden kilo verebilirsiniz... çeriindeki özel bileenler sayesinde Maurers , zayflama sürecinde size gereken enerjiyi vererek yorgun ve bitkin hissetmenizi de önlemeye yardmc olur.

    Orjinal Maurers Bitkisel Termonejik Ya Yakc Kapsül;

    tahnz keserek ve metabolizmay hzlandrmaya,

    Yalarnz hzla yakarak göbek basen ve hareketsiz bölgelerden çok kolay kilo vermeye,

    Oturduunuz yerde terleterek, spor yapar gibi kalori yakmanz salayan termojenik etki ile fazlalklardan kurtulmaya,

    Karbonhidratlar bloke eder: Kalorileri ciddi oranda absorbe ederek kiloya dönümesini engellemeye,

    Yaklan yalar enerjiye dönütürerek kilo verme esnasnda zayf ve güçsüz dümenizin önüne geçmeye,

    Ayrca içeriinde bulunan C vitamini ile vücudun ihtiyaç duyduu direnci salamaya yardmc olur.

    Termojenik ya yakc özellii bulunan Maurers , oturduunuz yerden kilo vermeniz için formülize edilmi benzersiz bir üründür. Bitkisel ya yakc, metabolizma düzenleyici ve sindirim sistemi sorunlar için en iyi bitkileri içeriinde barndran %100 doal Maurers kapsülleri ile kolayca zayflayacaksnz.
    Hzl ve etkili Maurers Forte ya yakc termojenik özelliinin yan sra itahnz kapatarak yemek yeme arzunuzu en aza indiren bu ürünle açlk hissetmeden kilo verebilirsiniz. çeriindeki bileenler sayesinde Maurers, zayflama sürecinde size enerji vererek yorgun ve bitkin kalmanz da önler.

  6. "The OffSpring" said it best, in "All I Want"... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us8OhI-OTHg

    "Day after day your home life's a wreck
    The powers that be just
    Breathe down your neck
    You get no respect
    You get no relief
    You gotta speak up
    And yell out your piece
    So back off your rules
    Back off your jive
    Cause I'm sick of not living
    To stay alive
    Leave me alone
    I'm not asking a lot
    I just don't want to be controlled
    That's all I want
    All I want
    How many times is it gonna take
    Till someone around you hears what you say
    You've tried being cool
    You feel like a lie
    You've played by their rules
    Now it's their turn to try
    So back off your rules
    Back off your jive
    Cause I'm sick of not living
    To stay alive
    Leave me alone
    I'm not asking a lot
    I just don't want to be controlled
    That's all I want
    All I want
    I said it before
    I'll say it again
    If you could just listen
    Then it might make sense"

    * A huge "amen" to that...

    I.E.-> Many of "the powers that be" are DOING IT WRONG!

    They ought to be using their control of "the pipes/tubes" on the internet to do what GOOD "filering" DNS servers are up to, which is filtering out KNOWN SOURCES of malicious content online!

    (E.G.-> malware, malicious script, poisoned banner ads, sites that serve up malicious content in general, spam, & phishing mails also, etc./et al...).

    No, instead, this is what folks get - spying on them? WTF!

    Good filtering DNS servers for people to consider using (since I noted them above):

    Options for "DNSBL filtered 'secured'" DNS servers for single system users/non-networked users (on the job using AD networks or otherwise):

    A.) Norton DNS (198.153.192.50 and 198.153.194.50/198.153.192.40 and 198.153.194.40/198.153.192.60 and 198.153.194.60) -> http://nortondns.com/ & you can even see how it updates every few minutes vs. known malicious sites-servers, here -> http://safeweb.norton.com/buzz as well as get a GOOD read on how/why it works, etc.- et al, here https://dns.norton.com/dnsweb/faq.do

    It filters vs. MANY threats online & IS UP TO DATE as is possible I'd imagine (see those links, you'll understand WHY I state that). It's part of WHY I use it as my PRIMARY DNS here...

    ---

    B.) ScrubIT DNS (67.138.54.100 and 207.225.209.66 ) -> http://www.scrubit.com/ & here is a good read on how/why it works via its FAQ's as well -> http://www.scrubit.com/index.cfm?page=faq

    ---

    & of course

    C.) Open DNS (208.67.222.222 or 208.67.220.220) -> https://store.opendns.com/get/home-free

    ---

    D.) Plus:

    Comodo Secure DNS:

    http://www.comodo.com/secure-dns/switch/windows_vista.html

    8.26.56.26
    8.20.247.2

    ---

    EACH IS FREE, & WORKS vs. threats online of MANY kinds, doubtless via a form of DNSBL they use for filtering those threats out!

    (E.G.-> Phishing/Spamming, Malware hosting sites/servers, Maliciously scripted hosts-domains etc./et al & more...)

    * I use ALL 3 of them (mostly as "failovers" for one another, in case my primary can't resolve a host/domain name to an IP address, & w/ Norton DNS as primary)!

    (I do so, in a "layered triumvirate formation" in BOTH my IP stack DNS settings in Windows (software-side), as

  7. Politician and "police state" have same root word. by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 5, Informative

    > a document...had 90% redacted to "prevent premature unnecessary debate."

    I think they meant to "prevent mature, necessary debate on who will be elected next election."

    --
    (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
  8. assume by IamGarageGuy+2 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I think we can all safely assume that every government regardless of locale will try to restrict it's citizens rights to the point that the citizens have to respond to stop them. This is the default criteria for a government in the first place. We all know that this will creep back in a little while when the issue becomes less volatile. The only real way to stop it is by acceptance or revolution (e.g. american revolution). I don't forsee any polititians being strung up in trees so it is the fault of the public. You get the government you deserve.

    --
    Stay tuned for new sig...
    1. Re:assume by __aaltlg1547 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I think we can all safely assume that every government regardless of locale will try to restrict it's citizens rights to the point that the citizens have to respond to stop them. This is the default criteria for a government in the first place. We all know that this will creep back in a little while when the issue becomes less volatile. The only real way to stop it is by acceptance or revolution (e.g. american revolution). I don't forsee any polititians being strung up in trees so it is the fault of the public. You get the government you deserve.

      No, when the government is elected in open elections, citizens can get what they want without revolution. In the USA, we used to have an assault weapons ban (a measure many Americans found sensible). But it was allowed to expire because the National Rife Association heavily lobbied Congress to make sure it sunsetted. This is not about spying, but it is about removal of a restriction that was removed because many Americans wanted it removed. If you can get enough people interested, you can enact practically anything. Arguably, those in favor of repealing the ban were not even a majority. They were well-organized and well-financed, though.

      That's the key thing. Citizens have to care about the issue. Most citizens are ambivalent about security-vs.-surveillance.

    2. Re:assume by Kjella · · Score: 1

      That's the key thing. Citizens have to care about the issue. Most citizens are ambivalent about security-vs.-surveillance.

      It's more the threat perception, yes you can point to all the nasty stuff that happened with MLK and the civil liberties union or McCarthyism or in the Soviet Union or fascist Europe but to most people that's ancient history from the 1900s, neither the communist nor neonazist ideology hold any real sway in western countries. Sure there's quite a few undemocratic countries but they're not talking about an international socialist revolution like the Soviets did, nor does anyone look likely to want to start WWIII. In short, most people don't see much of a threat from the state. Meanwhile, there are threats from deranged terrorist groups. Getting killed or maimed by terrorists or anyone you know is a pretty real and serious infringement on your liberties too.

      The first thing everybody says after a terror attack is that this will not change us and we will go on as before, but it is as much posturing as it is truth. You can't help wonder if that's just someone's forgotten luggage or a bomb, you can't help respond as if it were a bomb. If you did nothing then people would avoid it out of fear and the terrorists win. If you spend billions on extra security the terrorists win. But the terrorists win less if people keep flying after 9/11 than if they didn't, even with TSA groping and naked scanners and the ridiculous restrictions on liquids. You can't ever get back that innocence, but you're trying to restore normality as far as at all possible. People hand them surveillance power to find the really bad men, not to interfere in everyday life but that's what happens. That much power is always abused.

      --
      Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
    3. Re:assume by __aaltlg1547 · · Score: 1

      So you push back at the excesses to try and keep a balance.

    4. Re:assume by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The only way to stop it is to evolve past government entirely. Government is just the collective belief that we should use a monopoly institution of violence/force (which never works) to solve social problems rather than voluntary association (which actually works). Dissolve the government and privatize all it's functions.

      It's an intellectual revolution and it's happening, gradually.

  9. YOU need to listen to this (voice of the masses) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://yro.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3042213&cid=40957305

    APK

  10. Re:"The OffSpring" said it best, in "All I Want".. by mrbester · · Score: 2

    Where's the TL;DR moderation when you need it? I think I wore a groove in my phone's Corning glass with all the swiping.

    --
    "Wait. Something's happening. It's opening up! My God, it's full of apricots!"
  11. Re:"The OffSpring" said it best, in "All I Want".. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    The OffSpring said it best again: "So back off your rules - Back off your jive! Cause I'm sick of not living (To stay alive)... Leave me alone (I'm not asking a lot): I just don't want to be controlled (That's all I want, All I want...)"

    YaYa-YaYa-YA!

    * Oh, incidentally - The bogus downmods here:

    http://yro.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3042213&cid=40957305

    ?

    That won't hide it either, so, "So much for that"...

    (Plenty, if not MOST people here, browse at "show all posts", so that "effete retalation" of the downmod? Face it: It IS useless!)

    APK

    P.S.=> Enjoy the tune - it says a LOT, & of course, it's "classic PUNK" (love it)...

    ... apk

  12. Listen to "the voice of the masses"... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    http://yro.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3042213&cid=40957305

    APK

    P.S.=> Ahem: In other words?

    When "the powers that be" actually POLICE THEMSELVES, HONESTLY (and they DO pull a LOT OF SHIT worldwide - think IRAN CONTRA)?

    Then, perhaps, they'll have the RIGHT to start SPYING ON THEIR CONSTITUENCY... when instead, they could be doing what I posted above in that link - which actually DOES work out well for folks online!

    ... apk

    1. Re:Listen to "the voice of the masses"... by IamGarageGuy+2 · · Score: 1

      This is the reason to not have AC's on this board. If you state your opinion by using a youtube video from a whiny and irrelevant rock band, the rest of the comment and statements made thereafter are immediately dismissed as the ramblings of a angst ridden teenager with too much time and not enough common sense.

      --
      Stay tuned for new sig...
  13. adv by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    what Justin answered I am startled that you able to make $4325 in 4 weeks on the internet. have you seen this web link http://www.makecash16.com

  14. that's right not snooping on the interenet..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    *YES sheeple, we are not snooping on the interenet...... do not look behind the cutian, there is no snooping of any nature occuring.....

  15. adv by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    just as Edwin responded I'm surprised that a person can profit $5197 in 1 month on the computer. have you read this page http://www.makecash16.com

  16. Re:"The OffSpring" said it best, in "All I Want".. by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: 0

    Right, let's have some fun here.

    Before I hit the "Read the rest of this comment..." link, I am going to bet myself 10 Hong Kong dollars that our old friend APK is back.

    --
    Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
  17. Re:"The OffSpring" said it best, in "All I Want".. by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: 0

    Aw shit, it took me so long to scroll through all that Wall O'Post that my finger's sore, and I forgot whether I won or lost the bet.

    The good news is that it doesn't matter, since I still have to go to Hong Kong either way in order to collect.

    Thanks for helping me decide where to go on holiday!

    --
    Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
  18. Re:"The OffSpring" said it best, in "All I Want".. by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: 1

    So which Horseman of the Apocalypse did you say you were, again...?

    --
    Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
  19. Australian democracy working quite well by Jeeeb · · Score: 4, Informative

    So the internet filter was dropped and the government has been absolutely silent on it since then. We're not going to have browser history data retention laws. iiNet won its case and was found not responsible for its users copyright infringement and we haven't seen any government attempts to introduce French/NZ three-strikes or similar laws since then either. Oh and finally games are going to get an R-rating.

    All in all, Australian democracy has worked quite well these last few years and the Australian internet is looking pretty free compared to a lot of other western countries. Oh and work on the nation wide fibre optic network continues as well.

    1. Re:Australian democracy working quite well by ByronHope · · Score: 1

      But the future doesn't look so bright. Opinion polling has the conservatives set to gain government at the next election. Australian mainstream media is on the whole very conservative so the information that gets to the general public is very thin and distorted. One of the highest priorities for the conservatives is trashing the NBN. Labor can't be trusted with censorship, however the conservatives are far worse, with at track record of always siding with their friends in the secret services. The Intelligence services and law enforcement are all politically conservative and hostile to any non-conservative government, hence Labor is trying to be as conservative as possible. We've had a few victories; but prospects for winning the war are bleak.

    2. Re:Australian democracy working quite well by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually the Liberal party has a far far better record on censorship and privacy. Generally right wing politics recognises the importance of the rights of citizens vs government better than left wing politics. The assumption that the left will be less autocratic because they are not 'conservatives' is dangerously wrong.

      However, I'm not trying to provide support for the LNP here, just correct the what I see as a poor assumption that Labor would be better in these areas than conservative.

      I think you are totally correct that we are facing a long and difficult struggle - both major parties cannot be trusted an inch. Vote for the Sex and/or Pirate parties.

    3. Re:Australian democracy working quite well by Dan541 · · Score: 2

      The Australian Federal Government intervene when people post offensive content on Facebook.

      Google "Aboriginal Memes" and you'll find plenty of talk about it.

      --
      An SQL query goes to a bar, walks up to a table and asks, "Mind if I join you?"
    4. Re:Australian democracy working quite well by Jeeeb · · Score: 1

      Meh all that's happened so far is a bunch of ministers have expressed the sentiment that Facebook should delete racists material from its website. Personally, I support their right to express that sentiment. If they go and make laws requiring websites to delete content deemed offensive on request then it will be a different issue all together but that hasn't happened so far.

    5. Re:Australian democracy working quite well by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I legitimately find the abo memes funny, and I just don't find anything offensive.

    6. Re:Australian democracy working quite well by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Same here.

      Especially the "Don't be racist, you white dawg".

  20. Re:Politician and "police state" have same root wo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Given that the root word in question is "city", that has to be the most nonsensical observation I've seen yet.

  21. No new powers needed. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    ASIO can bitch and moan all the want but honestly, there's no way they should have more power than they currently have. Why should they be able to monitor us to the levels they are talking about? There has been no need to up until now and there will continue to be no need to into the future. Any organisation or group has to have a physical point of presence and that is the realm in which ASIO should be working. Warrants for wiretap and warrants for seizure of equipment/servers already exist. It is enough.

  22. That's it.. by GigaBurglar · · Score: 1

    There's no privacy any more - I'm pretty sick of it.

  23. Cut out the middle man. by arthurpaliden · · Score: 1

    Cut out the Middle man.

    When internet snooping / warrantless data searches were proposed in Canada the people just sent all their daily search histories. tweets and cc'd the Minister on all their emails. So much data was coming into the parliamentary mail servers they had to be shut down. The bill was pulled after first reading and sent to committee, which is not the usual procedure, where it is expected to die when this session of parliament ends.

    --
    Undetectable Steganography? Yep, there's an app fo
  24. After the next election? by Spacejock · · Score: 2

    Judging by the polls, in 2013 the Australian Labor Party will be handed the biggest caning in the history of Aussie politics. Roxon won't be in power to enact this legislation, and Conroy (Mr Internet Filter) will be out on his ear too. So, where the ALP and their policies are concerned, 'after the next election' equates to 'once hell freezes over'.

    --
    Hal Spacejock: Science Fiction with Nuts
    1. Re:After the next election? by SQL+Error · · Score: 2

      If we see anything like the recent Queensland state election there'll barely be a Labor Party left.

  25. Down the pan by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I didn't realise Australia was going down the toilet too.

  26. Re:"The OffSpring" said it best, in "All I Want".. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://start64.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5851:apk-hosts-file-engine-64bit-version&catid=26:64bit-security-software&Itemid=74

  27. Back? I never left /., but I am back... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In other ways -> http://start64.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5851:apk-hosts-file-engine-64bit-version&catid=26:64bit-security-software&Itemid=74

    * This time in 64-bit code...

    APK

    P.S.=> Enjoy the program...

    ...apk

  28. Everybody wins... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    By using this program -> http://start64.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5851:apk-hosts-file-engine-64bit-version&catid=26:64bit-security-software&Itemid=74

    * Does the job, in 64-bit code...

    APK

    P.S.=> Enjoy the program...

    ...apk

  29. Ah, a pseudo-intellectual DOUCHE! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    IamGarageGuy 2 = wannabe intellectual douche. We understand you cannot help but be the douche you are, but please, try to keep your puny small minded opinions to yourself.

  30. Facts on "a whiny irrelevant rock band" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Lead singer Dexter Mulholland's a PhD candidate (with Masters in Molecular Biology), & valedictorian of his high school class in California before that:

    ---

    "Valedictorian from Pacifica High School, he's a FAA licensed Airline Transport Pilot, and a Master's Degree in Molecular Biology. He started a doctoral program in Molecular Biology, but he left in order to focus on the band."

    FROM -> http://madeira.hccanet.org/project2_2010/thielep2/dexter.html

    ---

    * SO, "eat your words", regarding your opinion up there, and? More below too...

    APK

    P.S.=> Plus, calling "the OffSpring" this on your part:

    "... a whiny and irrelevant rock band..." - by IamGarageGuy 2 (687655) on Saturday August 11, @01:00PM (#40958207)

    vs. this -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Offspring

    ?

    Isn't showing us you know a lot about music in the 1st place - they're legendary!

    ... apk

  31. Fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There will be no government internet snooping under a government I lead.
    Wouldn't trust anything a politician says, they do whatever they want, "Democracy" is only there when it suits them.

  32. Can anyone say: VPN? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yet another privacy-destroying measure that can be rendered useless with a good VPN or tor. I met an older guy on holidays in Europe recently. He claimed to have been a retired government anti terrorism intelligence worker for [undisclosed major power], on the data mining and analysis end. He told me they could not crack VPNs and these represented an obstacle to spying on communications.