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Aussie Telco Telstra Agreed To Spy For America

An anonymous reader writes "Australian telecommunications giant Telstra has for a decade been storing huge volumes of electronic communications carried between Asia and America for surveillance by U.S. intelligence agencies. This includes not just the metadata, but the actual content of emails, online messages and phone calls. With the blessing of the Australian government Telstra agreed to route data through a 'U.S. point of contact through a secure storage facility on U.S. soil that was staffed exclusively by U.S. citizens.' The contract was prompted by Telstra's decision to expand its business in Asia by taking control of hundreds of kilometers of undersea telecommunications cables. The deal started under the Liberal Party and continued under Labor. The Greens have demanded an explanation."

3 of 125 comments (clear)

  1. Re:I'm not an expert by Shirogitsune · · Score: 3, Funny

    *hands a Kit-Kat bar to nickmh*

  2. helping us by beefoot · · Score: 5, Funny

    NSA is building a huge database to help us to help ourselves. With the data that they have, they can easily tell me what I want for lunch today or tomorrow. Or better yet, do my job for me. I can relax at the beach all day long watching bikini babes.

  3. Re:I'm not an expert by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Did Obama not say something similar before he got in?