Macquarie Government Supports Decryption Initiative

New legislation updates current intercept laws.

Aidan Tudehope, Managing Director, Macquarie Government, commented today on draft legislation being prepared by the Australian Federal Government to allow access to encrypted data of suspected terrorists and cyber criminals, describing it as nothing more than modernising existing telephone intercept legislation.

Angus Taylor, MP, Minister for Law Enforcement and Cyber Security, announced the draft legislation yesterday.

“The principle of requiring lawful intercept of telephone calls is not new,” said Aidan Tudehope.

“Telecommunications companies have been required to do this for years, within a carefully crafted set of rules.

“With appropriate oversight and compliance requirements, the extension of this legislation to cover encrypted data on mobile devices should not be seen as impinging on civil liberties but as a necessary modernisation of a set of tools to address – and prevent – illegal behaviour that threatens our community.”

The draft legislation is understood to not only extend the type of communications that can be intercepted (data as well as voice), but also the organisations required to provide access to Government, with it applying to technology service providers as well as telecommunications providers.

“Technical issues are real and balancing security risks of implementing the principle should be the focus of discussion,” said Tudehope.

“Privacy is a huge concern and point of discussion at the moment, and there’s a danger of this legislation getting caught up in that whirlwind. But debate on this issue must recognise that the idea of legal interception of communication is not new.”