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Australia Called Out as Willing To Undermine Human Rights For Digital Agenda (zdnet.com)
A report from AccessNow has asked Australia to change its course and lead the way in serving as a champion for human rights instead of against. From a report: Global human rights, public policy, and advocacy group AccessNow has called out Australia for its lack of focus on human rights as it adapts to the challenges of the digital era, with a report from the non-profit saying the country should instead be leading the way in serving as a champion for human rights. "Australia should be a global leader in serving as a champion for human rights, such as the right to privacy and rights to freedoms of expression and association," AccessNow said. "Unfortunately, Australia has taken actions that indicate the nation is willing to undermine human rights as it adapts to the challenges of the digital era."
In Human Rights in the Digital Era: An International Perspective on Australia [PDF], AccessNow says that as the digital world continues to develop, and technology increasingly becomes an "intimate part" of daily lives, Australians are facing a choice. "The country can either continue to be a testing ground for policies that undermine privacy and security in the digital era, or it can be a champion for human rights in the digital age, leveraging its relationships in the world to raise the standards for the next generation," the report says.
In Human Rights in the Digital Era: An International Perspective on Australia [PDF], AccessNow says that as the digital world continues to develop, and technology increasingly becomes an "intimate part" of daily lives, Australians are facing a choice. "The country can either continue to be a testing ground for policies that undermine privacy and security in the digital era, or it can be a champion for human rights in the digital age, leveraging its relationships in the world to raise the standards for the next generation," the report says.
Australia has a horrific human rights record, after the slaughter of the aboriginal peoples and confining them to a small area makes the way the USA treated the Native Americans look downright hospitable by comparison.
Okay, I read TFA for you guys, you can thank me later.
They are worried about privacy and freedom of speech/association. In particular the government is trying to bring in some anti-encryption laws that would mandate backdoors and step up domestic surveillance.
const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
Depends on the country in question.
In the US, they way it is supposed to work is...that the government does NOT grant you rights, you are born with them.
The US constitution is there not to grant you rights, but to enumerate the limited powers and responsibilities for the federal govt. It is stated aside from these, that most of the law and rules comes from the states and local governments.
And basically, most any new thing man figures how to do, is by your BORN (or God given, if you believe that way) right inherently, unless it is regulated or banned by law.
So, the internet, it was a new thing and you inherently have the right to use it as you please for any speech or expression that isn't illegal (kiddie pr0n for example).....this comes as a benefit of being born a human, it is not granted to you by the government.
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
Manus Island. Tampa Incident. Nauru. SIEV-X. Stolen Generations. New Norscia. Child imprisonment in the Northern Territory. Two strikes laws, also in NT. Thursday Island. Pacific Solution. Peter Dutton. Deporting of Australian children with tenuous NZ connections under terrorism laws. Timor Gap bullying. Failure on every social indicator for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
That should help bring you up to date.
There's more, but this is a start.