<
https://www.innovationaus.com/use-of-encryption-powers-doubles-but-still-no-terrorism-cases/>
"Australia’s controversial encryption-busting powers have not been used to
investigate terrorism offences for a fifth year in a row, despite the former
Coalition government using the heightened prospect of terrorism to rush the
laws through Parliament.
The use of the powers for other serious offences continues to grow, doubling
last financial year to 66 uses, according to mandatory disclosures tabled in
Parliament this week.
The Australian Federal Police, which for the first time did not use the powers
last year, has warned advances in end to end encryption is now used in almost
all the communications it intercepts, making it harder for the agency to
identify people.
The Assistance and Access Act was waved through Parliament on the last sitting
day of 2018 and gives law enforcement and national security agencies the power
to request or compel tech companies to provide access to encrypted data.
Under the laws, authorities can issue a technical assistance request to
technology company, which voluntarily asks them to help provide access to data
using existing capability when investigating serious crimes or national
security threats.
Federal and state policing agencies, as well as the Australian Criminal
Intelligence Commissioner (ACIC), can also issues technical assistance notices
and technical capability notices, which compel a company to provide assistance
or build “limited capabilities”.
According to the latest Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act annual
report, released by Attorney General’s Department on Thursday, there were 66
uses of the powers last financial year, more than double the 30 in 2021-22."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
