1.4% of The Australian Population Were Spied on by Australian Gummints in 2013-1014

Diji1 on 28/09/2016 - 10:08

The Attorney-General's Department has just released a report outlining the various continuing efforts of various Australian gummint agencies to spy on Australians. Around 330,000 requests for data were made which includes wiretaps and requests for stored information about individuals without the use of a warrant. This is 2nd highest in the world from what we know - Poland only being higher - but it should be noted that some supposedly open, Western countries do not publish reports like this about spying on their own populations.

https://www.crikey.com.au/2015/06/19/australia-punches-above…

Note that this period is prior to the now active legislation requiring all ISPs and mobile telecommunications providers to store all metadata for every customer for a period of not less than 730 days - or face criminal sanctions.

Since this legislation was enacted dozens of non-law enforcement agencies have requested access to metadata despite the usual assurances that only law enforcement would be allowed to use the data and if they did they had to have warrants. The list includes local councils and Greyhound Racing Victoria.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-18/government-releases-li…

Mass surveillance systems have always been abused. For example recently it's come to light that NSA employees stored and shared explicit photographs of people they were spying on without warrants - the agency tried to spin it as an hilarious prank where employees shared images of penises but of course the reality was it was primarily 18 to 25 year old women engaging in sex acts with the expectation of privacy. So much for protecting America.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/21/us/politics/edward-snowden…

The Australia system is currently so much worse because the oversight is a joke and a pigs at the trough mentality for data requests appears to already exists before the system has come in.

Can't wait to see this report in a few years time when they get their hands on everybody in Australia's metadata.

The sick joke is: it is trivial to hide yourself online so criminals do. The metadata retention legislation will not catch criminals other than the odd naive moron. Therefore it will only be used against you and me.

Internet

Comments

  • altomic on 28/09/2016 - 10:21
    +1

    I'm fine. my aluminium Tin foil hat will protect me.

  • k-rokfm on 28/09/2016 - 10:36

    1%ers!

    • sane on 28/09/2016 - 10:39

      Actually spying on the 1% would probably be the smartest move - the corruption and tax avoidance you could uncover would make billions.

  • spackbace on 28/09/2016 - 11:03
    +10

    You must be fun at parties

  • [Deactivated] on 28/09/2016 - 11:21

    someone seems bored

  • inherentchoice on 28/09/2016 - 11:35
    -1

    dozens of non-law enforcement agencies have requested access to metadata despite the usual assurances that only law enforcement would be allowed to use the data

    But the legal definition of law enforcement agency is quite wide. Local councils and Greyhound Racing Victoria would fit the definition.

    Also, 'spying' is a strong/sensationalist word. In most cases they may have just retrieved call logs of a single suspect, with those logs recording calls to 100 other people, who therefore will fit within that statistic of being 'spied' upon.

    It's not like there's covert investigators stalking you.

    Our taxes couldn't pay for all the investigators needed to literally spy upon 1.4% of the population.

    If you're a law-abiding citizen then what does it even matter if the government is gathering some intelligence?

    • MrMcHairyHead on 28/09/2016 - 14:55

      If you're a law-abiding citizen then what does it even matter if the government is gathering some intelligence?

      Well if that isn't the most illogical, Orwellian argument I've ever heard I don't know what is.

      Why shouldn't I be able to watch you have a shower, if you're not doing anything wrong?

      • inherentchoice on 28/09/2016 - 15:13

        If you want to spy on someone having a shower, well you'd be committing a criminal offence so I understand if you're a bit nervous of the authorities finding out.

      • RockyRaccoon on 28/09/2016 - 15:20

        Well if that isn't the most illogical, Orwellian argument I've ever heard I don't know what is.

        Well if that's not the greatest overstatement I've ever heard I dont know what is….😀

  • retiredfeline on 28/09/2016 - 11:38
    +4

    Why was I not surprised when I scrolled up to see who was the OP? Still, you did make your first deal post recently so there's hope for you.

    • Baysew on 28/09/2016 - 12:34
      +2

      "Gummints" made it far to easy to guess.

  • Domingo on 28/09/2016 - 14:14
    +5

    How do you get to 1.4%?

    Around 330,000 requests for data were made

    Are you suggesting there are no instances of 2 or more requests for data being made for the same person?

    • [Deactivated] on 29/09/2016 - 11:32

      it was actually 329,999 requests for data on scotty and one for jv

  • RockyRaccoon on 28/09/2016 - 14:37

    Can't wait to see this report in a few years time when they get their hands on everybody in Australia's metadata.

    Everyone? I wouldnt be following any tips you make for horse racing, buying stocks - how NAIVE!

    The metadata retention legislation will not catch criminals other than the odd naive moron.

    Now we know why you are so upset

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