Post Sydney-Dawn-Terror Raids

This is a quick rundown of what it allows ASIO to do. The links within the piece are worth a look too.

From the article Helix linked:

The new bill also allows ASIO to seek just one warrant to access a limitless number of computers on a computer network when attempting to monitor a target

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ASIO will also be able to copy, delete, or modify the data held on any of the computers it has a warrant to monitor.

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The bill also allows ASIO to disrupt target computers, and use innocent third-party computers not targeted in order to access a target computer.

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Hope there's an agreement with the ISPs that we don't get billed for ASIO's usage ;-).



But seriously, my paranoid (or at least super-cautious) side is already wondering if that means my internet connection can be hijacked and my computer wiped to get to someone else in the 'network'. Sometimes all this stuff feels like it's happening on some other planet, but at the same time the internet seems to be able to bring it right to my doorstep.

CassandraW said:

ETA:

The worst were the fake anthrax reports -- and the occasional malicious person sending what turned out to be fake anthrax. And of course there actually had been a couple of real and very scary anthrax deaths (and threats); somehow their effect was heightened by the false reports. We became all too aware of how easy it would be to do, and that any random person could be the victim. A lot of us were terrified to open an envelope for a little while. No joke -- I was one of them. I got over it eventually, but I can remember feeling that way.

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We had a period of 'anthrax' scares over here at that time too. I remember I was working for a Govt Dept that by the nature of its business was the target of hate from particular members of the public. We had numerous evacuations due to envelopes being received in the mail room that had been laced with powder. Every instance was a prank, but every instance had to be taken seriously because you never knew when it was going to be the real thing.


Completely unrelated to that, we took our kids to Riverfire on the weekend. Despite the media's best scaremongering efforts, there were a good 500,000 people from all walks of life lined up shoulder to shoulder along the banks of the river for the event without incident. Definitely restored my faith in Aussie spirit - despite the efforts of the few in the media spotlight. The media did get it right about increased security though. I was most impressed with this guy's efforts as he patrolled his section back and forth for hours...

The 'whole internet' business is a red herring. That's why Wilson and others bring it up.

The important thing is that they have blanket permission to monitor any computers they want to without evidence or even any suspicion of wrong-doing. They can access anyone's computer -- without their permission or knowledge. They can change stuff on that computer, use it to access or change stuff on someone else's computer and be immune from prosecution under a range of circumstances. (Of course, trying to prove illegal activity of a member of a group with such a wide range of government-sanctioned powers might be difficult anyway. East Timor, for example.)

It's a fishing expedition on a major scale. (No piscine puns intended.)

ETA: 'Stuff' being about as technical as my knowledge allows.

Here's First Dog on the Moon on the topic of the new surveillance laws.

...a mostly blank cheque to surveil and screw with Australian citizens at will.

mccardey said:

Oh.

Well I can confidently say I'm against that. That's outrageous. Really? That's outrageous.

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They soitanly can.

Also...

In addition to the computer warrant powers, the new legislation also dramatically restricts freedom of the press, with journalists and others facing up to 10 years' imprisonment for disclosing so-called "special intelligence operations" — actions that can be designated at the whim of ASIO. The parliamentary committee that investigated the legislation opted against specifically exempting journalists from this new restriction.

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From Josh Taylor at ZDNet. (First Dog put it more succinctly in that cartoon)

ETA: I'm supposed to be working. I might have to ask for a temporary ban. Maybe ASIO could help?

800 police officers. One plastic sword.

At least the local cops in Orange + a bomb techie from Bathurst managed to take care of an explosive device found in a car. But no plastic sword or political mileage, so no big beat up.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-07/police-seize-explosive-device-from-car-at-orange/5794988

I think I remedied your rep point situation. You should now have more than most peeps. lol. s 'n s

Pls. don't end givin' mccardey reppies. She deserves a gazillion!