{"id":1824,"date":"2017-04-17T19:39:01","date_gmt":"2017-04-17T19:39:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dingo.news\/voice\/?p=1824"},"modified":"2023-09-29T16:24:12","modified_gmt":"2023-09-29T08:24:12","slug":"government-lies-about-metadata-scheme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dingo.news\/voice\/government-lies-about-metadata-scheme\/","title":{"rendered":"Government Lies About Metadata Scheme – by Kieran Adair & Ugur Nedim"},"content":{"rendered":"

As we all were preparing for the Easter break, the government switched on the full version of its metadata retention system<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Although the legislation enabling the scheme<\/span><\/a> was passed in October 2015 \u2013 and data has been stored and accessed since then \u2013 last week marked the end of the \u2018implementation period\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

This means everyone\u2019s online activities are now being stored by Internet Service Providers \u2013 and must be released to a whole host of government agencies upon request, without those agencies having to obtain a warrant.<\/span><\/p>\n

Journalist Quentin Dempster<\/a> <\/span>described the laws as turning \u201cthis country\u2019s entire communications industry\u2026 into a surveillance and monitoring arm of at least 21 agencies of executive government.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

George Brandis<\/span><\/div>\n
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Why these laws are concerning<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

While the content of your communications is not meant to be looked at, the legally accessible data can still paint a detailed picture<\/span><\/a> of your online activities \u2013 potentially enabling government agents to use selected data to bolster allegations<\/span><\/a> against intended targets, or to track, hunt down and prosecute whistle blowers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Indeed, government agencies including the Australian Federal Police have already admitted investigating many journalists<\/span><\/a> and even doctors<\/a> <\/span>who have been critical of government policies and actions, by accessing their metadata.<\/span><\/p>\n

The new legislation will make it a lot easier for these agencies to hunt down whistleblowers<\/span><\/a> who expose government misconduct.<\/span><\/p>\n

Data that can be legally accessed without a warrant includes:<\/span><\/p>\n