ARTICLE · 13 DECEMBER 2018

Big Brother is watching: Australias snoopers charter is now law

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Technology companies, industry groups and civil libertarians are united in their stance that this is a terrible new law.

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Jennifer Johannesen

Lachlan Blair

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If you’re working in the technology sector, or you use iMessage, WhatsApp or any other encrypted messaging service at home or in your business – you’ll want to read this.

Yesterday evening the government passed the Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Bill 2018. Modelled on the UK Investigatory Powers Act 2016, the Australian government, together with the Labor opposition has handed the security services the Western world’s most extensive cyber-surveillance powers.

Why? The government says the law is a response to the impediment that the increasing prevalence of encrypted data and communications represents to the investigative and interception capabilities of our security agencies.

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