[ad_1]
Digital giants led by Google, Facebook and Amazon have warned Australia against adopting a "fundamentally flawed" law allowing security services to spy on encrypted communications between criminals and criminals. suspected terrorists.
In a communication sent to parliament this week and made available to AFP on Thursday, the Digital Industry Group Inc. (DIGI) said the legislation proposed by the Australian government would undermine the country's security rather than prevent it. to strengthen it.
READ ALSO:
Technology giants warn Australia against law banning encryption
The bill, currently being considered by a parliamentary committee, would give security agencies broad powers to compel telecommunications and technology companies to give them access to encrypted devices and messaging applications.
The Conservative government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison has asked that the bill be pbaded before the suspension of parliamentary business on December 6, saying that a number of ongoing investigations in the area of combating terrorism were hindered by the use of encrypted messages by the conspirators.
Authorities have increased pressure for the urgent adoption of the bill after the arrest and impeachment two weeks ago of three men suspected of planning an attack in Large scale inspired by Islamists in Melbourne, using encrypted email applications.
The DIGI alliance, which also includes Verizon's Twitter and Oath platforms, said the bill, as drafted, would require them to create vulnerabilities in their operations that could be exploited by bad actors .
"Deliberately creating a way to access otherwise secure data will create weaknesses and vulnerabilities that, regardless of the good intentions of the moment, will give opportunity to other actors, including malicious ones, to access these same data, "they said. .
Get live updates in Agriculture by subscribing to the new SMS Farm TV service. Text the word & # 39; Farmers & # 39; at 22071.
Companies reject the idea that encryption can be both effective and broken when needed.
"It's a needle that can not be threaded – you can not break the encryption without introducing vulnerability into the entire system," said the alliance.
Technology companies also complained that the bill did not include enough judicial guarantees against abuses by security agencies and could force them to "take action in Australia that violates the laws of the country." 39, other countries in which they operate or have customers ".
READ ALSO:
On sale: Make the most of the best deals
The group suggested a series of amendments, including the need for all requests from security agencies to be approved by an independent judge; that they do not require suppliers to incorporate weaknesses in their systems or products; or impose "new capacity for data retention and interception".
He also said that the applications could not force the technology providers to do anything in Australia that would violate the laws of other countries.
DIGI's submission indicated that the Australian bill went much further than existing security legislation in the United States or Great Britain, and would be inconsistent with the recently adopted data privacy laws in the United States. 39, European Union.
Australia is a member of the so-called "Five Eyes" intelligence alliance alongside the United States, Great Britain, Canada and New Zealand. Critics have suggested that the new law on surveillance could serve as a test for strengthening anti-encryption efforts in other countries.
Companies have issued a veiled warning that enacting the proposed law could cause major technology companies to shut down or limit their operations in Australia.
"Australians may not have access to the best technology because technology providers may choose not to sell to Australians and to submit to this legislation," they said.
Would you like to be published on Standard Media websites? You can now email us the latest news, article ideas, articles of interest or interesting videos on:
[ad_2]
Source link
