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Australian Industry and Tech Groups Unite To Fight Encryption-Busting Bill (zdnet.com)
A new encryption bill that's expected to be passed in Australia is facing strong opposition from tech heavyweights. A new group called "Alliance for a Safe and Secure Internet" has been formed by Australian industry, technology, and human rights groups to persuade the country from passing the bill, reports ZDNet. "The membership of the new alliance consists of Australian Communications Consumer Action Network, Access Now, Ai Group, Australian Information Industry Association, Amnesty International Australia, AMTA, Blueprint for Free Speech, members of Communications Alliance sans NBN, DIGI, Digital Rights Watch, Future Wise, Hack for Privacy, Human Rights Law Centre, Internet Australia, IoT Alliance Australia, and Liberty Victoria." The Guardian also notes that Google and Facebook are part of the group. From the report: The Bill is currently before the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, with a minuscule three-week window for submissions closing on Friday, October 12 and a hearing set for Friday, October 19. The proposed legislation would allow the nation's police and anti-corruption forces to ask, before forcing, internet companies, telcos, messaging providers, or anyone deemed necessary, to break into whatever content interception agencies want access to.
"This Bill stands to have a huge impact on millions of Australians, so it is crucial that lawmakers reject this proposal in its present form before we sleepwalk into a digital dystopia," said board member of Digital Rights Watch and alliance spokesperson Lizzie O'Shea. "The rushed processes coupled with the lack of transparency can only mean that expert opinions from Australia and abroad are being disregarded, and deep concerns about privacy erosion and lack of judicial review have simply been tossed aside."
"This Bill stands to have a huge impact on millions of Australians, so it is crucial that lawmakers reject this proposal in its present form before we sleepwalk into a digital dystopia," said board member of Digital Rights Watch and alliance spokesperson Lizzie O'Shea. "The rushed processes coupled with the lack of transparency can only mean that expert opinions from Australia and abroad are being disregarded, and deep concerns about privacy erosion and lack of judicial review have simply been tossed aside."
Or it could just be that tech firms don't want to deal with the complete nightmare that is hackable security. The situation is already almost at complete collapse already. Backdoors built in are the last thing anyone needs.
Less competition in IT is certainly something the rest of the world could well use. Because if you're not allowed to encrypt in your country, the very first thing that will happen is that ANYONE who has remotely any data worth protecting will FLEE your country. Any data storage will happen abroad. And since I probably won't even be allowed to transport data in encrypted format into your country, I will make sure that anything remotely important will NOT touch your soil in any way.
In simple terms, so even politicians can grasp it: Pass this bill and kiss R&D, finance and IT good bye.
Because no backdoor is "government only" for long. At least not YOUR government-only. Such a back door is the holy grail, the gold ticket, the fast pass to industrial espionage. Do you think countries like North Korea would be above kidnapping the loved ones of someone holding that key and blackmail them so they don't get killed? Do you think your backdoor will be secret for long? And do you think anyone who's not completely insane will do any research or data storage in your country anymore?
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
Or do you really think it's a good idea to put your banking information out somewhere where pretty much anyone can get at it (to pay their own bills, for instance)?
you are confused.
as the other comment says, governments(which by your own logic is "somewhere where pretty much anyone can get at it ") already have access to payment and banking data (hence the propaganda promoting cashless society btw). this bill is something else.
bill should be opposed for very good reasons, but goodwill and motives of "tech heavyweights" should be doubted. two different things. don't get confused.
I agree. I just explain why these companies speak up.
These companies would have zero problems dealing with a surveillance state, a police state or any other authoritarian regime. Just look whether you can find them in China, for example. They are not opposed because of any moral grounds or because they care about individual freedoms. They are opposed because this legislation is so utterly stupid that it ignores technological reality and will cause a massive host of severe problems for their businesses.
Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.