Australia gets spooks' charter, new leak penalties

Disconcerting

"The new legislation introduces a single warrant covering networks of computers (instead of requiring a single warrant for each intrusion); the right for agencies to use innocent third-party computers to access other computers; and the ability for intelligence officers to disrupt computer operations."

My flatmates and I share an internet connection via a switch. Will they view that as a network and one warrant to gain access to all of out data and PC's when they only want one of us?

Also, how will that work in regards to wifi hotspots? Will that be viewed as "a network", thus giving them carte blanche over anyone who connects to it?

Even though the UN has said that International Law could be breached by all this mass surveillance, do you think any of the countries doing it will care, especially considering they are the same countries who flouted international law by invading Afghanistan and Iraq, implemented torture regimes in their prisons, and ignored our constitutional rights.

The more this goes on, the more tempted I am to give up on the IT trade, ditch all devices that can be snooped on, and just become a laborer doing a shitkicker job.

Got one mate thats never had a computer, mobile phone, bank account, and successfully sued his employer for unfair dismissal when the company went to electronic funds transfers only, and fired him when he refused to get a back account.. I used to call him a luddite. Now I think he was the wisest of us all.

And so...

And, so, we see, that the lesson **has** been learnt from Edward Snowden:

The laws also impose increased penalties for leaking information. A new offence would be created that offers five years in prison for disclosing special intelligence operations, rising to ten years should the disclosure “endanger the health or safety of any person or prejudice the effective conduct of a special intelligence operation”

Maybe not the lesson we wanted our governments to learn...

Just thought I'd say ...

I know it's not computer related but ...

The Guardian reports that "Special intelligence operations are a new type of covert operation in which intelligence officers receive immunity from liability or prosecution where they may need to engage in conduct that would be otherwise unlawful."

How is it possible for a government to pass a law that exempts it's agents from the law !!!!!