Fed: Privacy concerns over new e-mail law

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2004
Fed: Privacy concerns over new e-mail law

Civil libertarians say a new federal law could allow authorities easy access to private
stored e-mails without a warrant.

Under the bill, due to be debated in the Senate tomorrow, many new government bodies
will be able to access private emails, voice-mail messages and SMS messages.

Currently, unopened e-mails can only be accessed if they involve serious crime and
only with a telecommunications intercept warrant.

Online civil liberties group Electronic Frontiers Australia says that if the bill's
passed, authorities would need only a search warrant -- or in some cases no warrant at
all -- and poses a serious threat to privacy.

It's the third time the government has put forward the amendment.

This time Labor is supporting it on the basis that an independent review is undertaken
before it expires in 12 months.

NIGEL WATERS of the Privacy Foundation says Labor's caving in because it doesn't want
to be seen to be soft on law and order going into the federal election.

AAP RTV apw/jmt

KEYWORD: INTERCEPTION (MELBOURNE)

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