Hi people,
I got this on the EFA mailing, and I'm forwarding it because I think it'll also be of interest to us Free Software people. As usual, the Government doesn't give much lead time on these submissions, and I haven't helped by some slippage from various distractions. You can make your own individual submission, I guess, but if you're interested in contributing to some sort of joint submission, please get in touch.
-- Smiles, Les.
----- Original message -----
From: Electronic Frontiers Australia
To: Les Kitchen mailto:ljk%2Befa@ljk.id.au>
Subject: Help wanted: Have your say on Electronic Surveillance Reform
Date: Thursday, February 03, 2022 09:54
News from Electronic Frontiers Australia.
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https://electronicfrontiersaustralia.cmail19.com/t/i-l-chltjiy-ikltditrr-r/
*We need your help.*
Hi Les,
For Electronic Frontiers Australia’s Electronic Surveillance Reform submission, we need your help.
Here’s what is happening…
*The TL;DR*
The Electronic Surveillance Reform seeks to update and modernise Australia’s “current patchwork of laws” relating to how telecommunications and surveillance devices are used to access data, listen to conversations and track movements for “serious crime” combating purposes. This legislation reform will mark the most significant change to national security in over *four* decades.
We have until *February 11 2022* to urge decision-makers to value our right to privacy in the tug-of-war between personal freedom and national security.
*How this intersects with daily life*
Digital communication has transformed the way we live, work and play.
Australia’s governments have struggled to keep up, and you can’t regulate what you don’t understand. While we’ve asked for better privacy protections and warned against the dangers of big tech, governments have been focussed on turning themselves into Facebook with arrest powers.
Instead of automatically figuring out what payments you’re entitled to, we get Robodebt. Instead of keeping our data secure, we get The Capability. Instead of stopping ad tech from spying on us everywhere, we get metadata retention.
*Electronic Frontiers Australia believes….*
We deserve a government that uses technology to make our lives better, not worse.
We need to remind the government what the national interest really is: a better future for every Australian, not just the privileged few. We don’t want a dystopian future of authoritarian surveillance. We want everyone to have access to computers that make our lives easier and more fun.
Divider line
The Electronic Surveillance Reform legislation is still in its early days, so in order to confront current challenges for a better future, it's important we draw inspiration from the experiences and perspectives of many.
We encourage you to write your own submission to the Electronic Surveillance Reform here https://electronicfrontiersaustralia.cmail19.com/t/i-l-chltjiy-ikltditrr-y/ but should you wish to contribute to EFA’s submission, get in touch and let us know what is important to you.
CONTACT https://electronicfrontiersaustralia.cmail19.com/t/i-l-chltjiy-ikltditrr-j/
*EFA in the news*
*Aussie forced to hand over phones and passcodes to ABF*
The Australian Border Force forced software developer James to hand over his phone and passcode, upon returning from a holiday in Fiji. This is a blatant example of the failing privacy rights afforded to Australians.
Read our two cents on the whole ordeal here https://electronicfrontiersaustralia.cmail19.com/t/i-l-chltjiy-ikltditrr-t/.
*Everything else*
It was a summer of submissions for EFA.
Over January, we had a jam-packed calendar writing submissions to the Privacy Act Review and Social Media (Anti-Trolling) Bill 2021.
*Here’s a snapshot on what we’re fighting for: *
*Privacy Act Review*
In our Privacy Act Review submission, EFA spoke of privacy as a collective good, not just an individual benefit. While some technological features, such as location tracking, are certainly convenient, they continue to pose unintended risks to the wider society (such as collecting and weaponising of highly personal data).
*Social Media (Anti-Trolling) Bill 2021*
In our Social Media (Anti-Trolling) Bill submission, EFA criticised the proposed Bill for seemingly handing over power to a privileged few which will allow them to harass their critics into silence. The Bill appears to be a cynical attempt to use genuine and warranted community concerns about online abuse to help powerful elites eliminate negative attention and defend their reputations.
While you’re reading this, we’re preparing submissions to the Critical Infrastructure Protection Bill 2022, Electronic Surveillance Reform and Copyright Amendment (Access Reform) Bill 2021.
At EFA we seek to represent all Internet users concerned with online liberties and rights. So, your feedback and thoughts are valued.
Email us at comms@efa.org.au and tell us: what fires you up? What is important to you? What is privacy worth to you?
We look forward to hearing from you! Keep in touch via Facebook https://electronicfrontiersaustralia.cmail19.com/t/i-l-chltjiy-ikltditrr-i/ and Twitter https://electronicfrontiersaustralia.cmail19.com/t/i-l-chltjiy-ikltditrr-d/.
Thanks,
The EFA Board
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Les Kitchen