The so called Identify and Disrupt bill was recently passed by the federal government. It enables officers to covertly hack into your online accounts, impersonate you and disrupt or modify your data. Indymedia’s Allan Boyd caught up with Kathryn Gledhill-Tucker – Nyungar technologist and digital rights activist currently serving on the board of Electronic Frontiers Australia.
Last month a federal government bill to create new police powers to spy on criminal suspects online, disrupt their data and take over their accounts was passed in the senate.
The Surveillance Legislation Amendment (Identify and Disrupt) Bill proposes, among other things, that officers could take control of an online account and impersonate someone.
The bill allows officers to disrupt data by modifying, adding, copying or deleting information in order to frustrate suspected criminal activity.
The government claims the new powers would mainly target terrorists, paedophiles and drug traffickers operating online.
Despite the intention to catch bad guys, and with some limited amendments, digital rights activists are not convinced the bill goes far enough to protect vulnerable internet users.
To help us understand what’s going on here I’m joined by Kathryn Gledhill-Tucker – Nyungar technologist and digital rights activist currently serving on the board of Electronic Frontiers Australia, and campaigner for human rights across movements…
Here’s a really good discussion with Dr Monique Mann and Angus Murray on the efa website.