Last week we were duly shocked by the discovery that the government is looking into a proposal to make ISPs retain a log of every website you ever visit. Now it’s coming out that they may want ISPs to link that information to other personal data like your passport number.
Ben Grubb over at ZDNet broke the original story, and yesterday followed it up with a deeper insight into the proposed scheme. While the government is denying it would capture individual browsing histories, unnamed sources from ISPs are saying that the original data set sent to ISPs from the government said that they’d require allied personal information, including passport numbers.
The entire post at ZDNet is well worth a read – it seems the government is defending its intentions purely by claiming different definitions. It’s an extremely scary position to find ourselves in as a country and something every one of us should be paying close attention to.
[ZDNet]
Timmy
Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 9:39 PMThe direction this government is heading in is truly terrifying.
Our freedom and liberty is at grave risk.
Rudd and Conroy have absolutely no clue about IT. All these control freaks can think of is to use the net to control us, manipulate us, and give out our identity to any criminal who wants it.
It is sad that the Liberals also have no clue and seem incapable of seeing the support they could gain simply by strongly opposing the erosion of our freedom (& NOt reintroducing Workchoices in disguise).
I will vote for the Greens, but what this nation really needs is a new political party that stands for true democracy, liberty, respect and support for citizens.
Don’t let the bastards bludgeon us into submission!
Robert
Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 9:49 PMThis is unbelievable. We are losing our freedoms and privacy in the fight against terrorism to protect our freedoms and privacy – how ironic!
However, don’t just whinge and complain, everyone should write a letter to their local Federal member – regardless of party – as well as Rudd, Abbott, McClelland, Conroy, and other major players, and make you opposition known. Make sure you ask (demand) a written reply from them in response to your comments/questions. Given that the upcoming federal election will be close with many marginal seats, this WILL have an impact. Trust me, I have been involved on the inside and know how it works. Also, a written letter or FAX has more impact and creates more work for the political staffers / politicians than just using email. Do both if you want to. The culprits can be found at
http://www.aph.gov.au/whoswho/index.htm
Do It today.
Cheers,
jo
Friday, June 18, 2010 at 12:36 AMThis is just stupid… It’s useless information. How often do you let other people use your computer, throughout your life: Friends in college, Parents, Significant others, Children, Children’s friends, etc… What purpose would this have? Nothing but trouble for random people. Trouble that would kill Tourism industry, as people would want to avoid potential trouble. Seeing as tourism is a HUGE business one would hope those in the business will lobby against this.
Glen Coffey
Friday, June 18, 2010 at 12:49 AMThis makes me sick.
rt
Friday, June 18, 2010 at 8:49 AMdo as the UK did, and vote the control freaks out!
therealhellkitty
Friday, June 18, 2010 at 1:48 PMGreetings from the US!
Please do stand tall against this assault on your
Civil liberties. Frankly, we here in the Northern
Half never associate AU/NZ with”terrorism” so why
Would your governments be concerned with what you do online ? It isn’t as if
You have huge sectarian or other forms of domestic
Violence. The real question is, what are they
Scared of and why? Are they afraid you will begin to export it? The British, Spanish and others
Have found that police work is the best way to
Track and prevent problems. This just sounds like
A massive fishing expedition. We already have a
Domestic surveillance system that to my knowledge
Has produced very little results. Besides, most criminals know that if you want to conspire online
You go to the library or use public access computer somewhere. Are the government that dumb to not know this?
I wish that we has a strong third party here. If would be lovely to have the option of selecting Greens here. Also, we don’t get to rank our preferences, you get to pick one and that’s it.
Good luck to you all with this. And if you can,
Keep BP out of your ocean. They have killed ours.
Best wishes from Texas, therealhellkitty
Mish
Friday, June 18, 2010 at 2:56 PMBut I don’t have a passport. I came here on a boat because the nice Australian government said I could.
slb
Sunday, June 20, 2010 at 7:50 AMYou shallow idiots.Any vote or preference against Labour is an instant vote for Liberals, and if any of you read between the lines at all or remember previous govts you will know this is democratic and social suicide
Joe
Monday, June 21, 2010 at 12:27 PMHow would this work? I look up something with adult content and then my kids use the same computer and there passport gets false information…WTF?
Free Thinker
Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 3:29 PMVote All emcumbants out of office.
Vote for the new climate skeptics party maybe
climatesceptics . com . au
One of their policies is standing up against big brother and helping to retain free speech.
We need help before it is too late
nsimpson
Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 10:44 PMYeah, but another one of their policies is pretending that climate change isn’t a problem. Their opposition to big brother is just a side effect of their opposition to any form of government regulation, what they really is want is no social or environmental accountability for corporations, and “Vote All emcumbants out of office.” reads like a tea party banner, right down to the spelling.
Crazyguy
Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at 8:04 PMGreat. Thanks a lot labor, don’t let the door hit your backsides on the way out.