Tony Abbott continues to apply pressure on Labor to support the Government’s data retention scheme, which it plans to pass through the Senate by the middle of next month.
After sending Labor Leader, Bill Shorten, a letter arguing that recent terror attacks highlight the need for data retention, Mr Abbott is now claiming that such data is “absolutely critical” to fighting child pornography online. From The Canberra Times:
“We know that access to metadata has played a role in preventing and investigating terrorism offences. But it’s also vital to investigating major crimes that destroy lives in this country”…
“And no crime is more abhorrent than crimes against children”…
Labor says it will work with the government but wants to see the detail of what is being proposed before giving its position.
This is cynical wedge politics from Tony Abbott that seeks to force Labor’s hand into backing the laws or risk being labelled soft on terrorists and child offenders.
The problem for Abbott is that he has failed to explain how pedophilia and terrorism are such a pervasive issues that they demand access to everyone’s data?
Nor has Abbott adequately countered concerns that the data retention laws would be ineffective.
As noted earlier in the month, huge flaws have been exposed in the Government’s data retention scheme. Not only would it create one massive honeypot for hackers and lawyers, but it would also be easily circumvented via, among other things:
- Using a virtual private network, or VPN;
- Using public Wi-Fi facilities, such as public libraries;
- Using international web-based emailing systems, such as GMail; and
- Using so-called “over-the-top” services such as Twitter direct messages and the Facebook Messenger app.
And then there is the massive cost of data retention, which Abbott is yet to properly explain.
The Communications Alliance has estimated that data retention could cost up to $700 million to design and build the systems to support the scheme, plus a further $100m a year to run. iiNet has also previously claimed that the policy could lead to customers paying an additional “internet tax” of $5 to $10 extra per month for their services.
By contrast, Abbott today has suggested that the scheme could cost $400 million, but refused to outline the Government’s (read taxpayer’s) contribution.
Greens senator, Scott Ludlam, claimed data retention was a proposal “with open-ended costs and unknown consequences, fast-tracked to distract away from the prime minister’s terminal leadership”. Ludlam also claimed “Tony Abbott wants the parliament to write a blank cheque for mass surveillance”.
Ultimately, all data retention is likely to do is impose draconian measures on the 99% of law abiding citizens, while the real targets – terrorists, pedophiles and other crooks – slip past the net via an array of simple circumvention measures.
The policy should, therefore, be junked in order to avoid forcing-up everyone’s internet costs, reducing civil liberties and privacy, and encouraging all kinds of frivolous activities from hackers and lawyers.
unconventionaleconomist@hotmail.com
