Laws passed today will allow authorities to collect and keep Australians’ internet records, including their web-browsing history, social media activity and emails.

[desertrose]

August 23, 2012 by desertrose

Crossroads News : Changes In The World Around Us And Our Place In It

Internet Neutrality : Invasion Of Privacy

Authorities gain power to collect Australians’ internet records

Bianca Hall
The Sunday Morning Herald

Laws passed today will allow authorities to collect and keep Australians’ internet records, including their web-browsing history, social media activity and emails.Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said the laws would help police track cyber-criminals around the globe, and would give authorities the power to find people engaged in forgery, fraud, child pornography, and infringement of copyright and intellectual property.The laws will also allow Australia to accede to the Council of Europe Convention on Cyber-crime, which has 34 members.

”Cyber-crime is a growing threat that touches all aspects of modern life,” Ms Roxon said. ”It poses complex policy and law enforcement challenges, partly due to the transnational nature of the internet.”

But Greens communications spokesman Scott Ludlam said the laws went further, and the government had failed to explain why the far-reaching powers were necessary.

”The European treaty doesn’t require ongoing collection and retention of communications, but the Australian bill does,” Senator Ludlam said.

”It also leaves the door open for Australia to assist in prosecutions which could lead to the death penalty overseas.”

The legislation will allow the Australian Federal Police to collaborate with international authorities in seeking Australian communications data under warrants.

Related articles

• New Australian law to control cyber data (stuff.co.nz)
• Beware, Big Brother is watching you (theage.com.au)
• Australian authorities gain power to collect internet records. (tgrule.com)
• Australian authorities gain power to collect internet records. (refreshingnews99.blogspot.com)
• Australian authorities gain power to collect internet records. (refreshingnews99.blogspot.in)
• Australia’s New Law Destroys Internet Freedom (libertyblitzkrieg.com)
• Cybercrime bill passes Senate (bigpondnews.com)
• EYE-BALL Opinion – New CYBER DATA Laws passed – this is not the last word - (bleyzie.wordpress.com)
• And softly went our privacy into the night (crikey.com.au)

[desertrose]

to monitor the people supposedly in making  it  easier  for the  authorities to gather information   when a  crime is  committed.  Some  would  say this  is  pre-crime  mentality.  To be  pidgeon-holed as following a pattern  designed  and designated by them , whether  that  person or  persons  should be   surveilled for a possible  crime.  Welcome to  1984 because  Big Brother  is  watching.

[Jim Balister]

WHY?