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ARTICLE · 08 JUNE 2018

Spy agency (ASD) gets teeth

Gilchrist Connell
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From 1 July 2018, the ASD will become an independent statutory body with several increased powers to combat cybercrime.

AustraliaGovernment, Public Sector
Katherine Czoch
Katherine Czoch
James Duffy
James Duffy
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In the wake of the increase in the incidence and sophistication of cybercrime, from 1 July 2018, the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), an Australian government foreign intelligence collection agency responsible for foreign signals intelligence and information security, will become an independent statutory body with new powers to combat cybercrime.

Background

The ASD provides the Australian government with advice and assistance on matters relating to security and integrity of information, greater understanding of sophisticated cyber threats and co-ordination of responses to cyber incidents of national importance across government. The ASD also works closely with industry to develop and deploy secure cryptographic products.

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