Just to be clear, though - illegal dumping of waste is not a good thing. It can be an environmental issue or pose health and safety risks. From a more prosaic standpoint, it's generally unsightly and costs the council money, wasting tax-payer rates on the required cleanups.
Likewise, issues of animal cruelty, like the recent 'live baiting' scandal in Queensland and claims of unethical behaviour between doctors and patients can be serious.
But are these things really so severe that those bodies investigating the issues - bodies that are not law-enforcement agencies or under any oaths or responsibilities to the public - should have access to this data without a warrant?
Of course not, but that is the way it is RIGHT NOW and the this new trove of data will be accessible under exactly the same regime and in exactly the same manner and with exactly as few restrictions and with exactly as little oversight.
Oh, but it's necessary to stop terrorists and pedophiles.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
