Aust police to gain access to stored messages

The federal Attorney General, Philip Ruddock, has introduced amendments to federal parliament that would ease police access to stored voice-mails, e-mails and text messages.

Ruddock said the Telecommunications (Interception) Amendment (Stored Communications) Bill would allow police to gain access to stored communications without a telecommunications interception warrant, as well as allowing access under "other forms of lawful authority, such as a search warrant".

He said existing legislation was designed only to cover voice telephony and did not encompass additional technologies.

The Bill is designed as a temporary solution while Ruddock's department conducts a more full investigation of interception laws.

He said new communication technologies that may involve storage, but which are similar to standard voice telephony, remain protected in the same way as telephone calls under the new legislation. Voice over Internet Protocol and comparable communications are specifically excluded from the amendments.

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Talkback 2 comments

    National ID Cards, ASIO Act et ...Anonymous -- 27/05/04

    National ID Cards, ASIO Act etc.. Civil liberties, are slowly being taken away pieace by pieace.. the justification, "terrorism". Yarn.

    IF we had a legitimate government, a responsible government, I would not mind such things, but this Howard Government continues to lie like no other, and I feel very unsafe giving these people (who I am now 100% convinced have their own political agenda) these sought of powers!

    Supposed to a be a free country? Free People?

    I give it 10 years, we will be a Police State.

    You've got to be kidding me! S ...Anonymous -- 02/06/04

    You've got to be kidding me! Someone please stop Orwell from spinning in his grave, let the man rest already.

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