This appeared a bit over a week ago but has gone relatively unnoticed.
Metadata laws under fire as 'authority creep' has more agencies accessing your information
By political reporter Melissa Clarke
Posted
More government agencies are accessing people's phone and internet records than originally envisaged, in what critics are describing as "authority creep".
Key points:
- Access to metadata was initially restricted to 22 government agencies, but state-based agencies have blown that figure out
- Because they are accessing metadata and not content of communications, no warrant is required
- It is not known how many agencies are now able to request metadata
Controversial laws which came into force last year compel telecommunications companies to retain metadata on their customers, including information on who you call or text, where you make calls from, and who you send emails to.
To allay privacy concerns, access to the metadata was limited to 22 specific police and intelligence agencies, such as the Australian Federal Police, ASIO and state police forces.
But a parliamentary hearing has been told that number has blown out.
"There are many more than 22 agencies," John Stanton from Communications Alliance, the industry peak body, said.
"Many state-based agencies have come forward and started using their own state-based powers to request metadata.
"Authority creep, I guess you might call it."
The Communications Alliance told the parliamentary hearing telcos are getting around 1,000 requests for metadata each day.
It is not clear exactly how many agencies are now able to request access to stored metadata.
Because they are accessing the metadata and not the content of communications, the agencies are not required to get a warrant.
Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus expressed concern, noting access to stored metadata was supposed to be tightly restricted.
"It's a specified group of 22, reduced at the time of the mandatory data retention legislation going through from the previous very wide group of around 80."
Lots more here:
So what we see here is the classic government regulatory and authority creep. Once some bureaucrat can access something suddenly it’s “all pile on” and soon access becomes a free for all.
If you believe that insurance companies, employers and all sorts of others won’t be accessing myHR data five years from now you are smoking something that is a long way from legal.
The only way to protect yourself is to not provide information to Government in the first place. It really is as simple as that.
Oh, and if you believe the Government will actually delete records because someone simply asks I want an extra dose of what you are smoking.
Just think about it. Five years ago or so we were told the myHR would always be voluntary, only to watch the stunt they are now pulling. The evidence is overwhelming that Government can’t be trusted in the long term so stick to their promises. (For another example look at how past and future Governments look to be planning (and have) to mess about with the Super system – and you can be sure the meddling won’t be good for you!)
If you have less that 100% confidence just opt-out.
David.
This does indeed provide a backdoor. Of course we will not provide any information to third parties, but that may not exclude data or indeed metadata. Both of which can be used to construct the information we were never going to release. The PM is never going to gain popularity while Dutton operates an alternative agenda and government.
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