Snowden and Allies Issue Warnings as Australia Unleashes Mass Spying
“Go dark against data retention,” consumer advocates tell users in new campaign against invasive surveillance laws
The new laws require Australian telecommunications companies and internet service providers (ISPs) to store user metadata for two years. (Photo: greensefa/flickr/cc)
As new controversial metadata laws went into effect in Australia on Tuesday, whistleblower Edward Snowden took to Twitter to warn the country’s residents about the privacy violations that come along with the legislation.
The new laws require Australian telecommunications companies and internet service providers (ISPs) to store user metadata—like phone records and IP addresses—for two years, during which time it may be accessed by law enforcement without a warrant. Civil liberties and internet freedom groups have criticized the laws as invasive and unconstitutional.
“Beginning today, if you are Australian, everything you do online is being tracked, stored, and retained for 2 years,” Snowden wrote, linking to a campaign by advocacy group GetUp! that gave instructions on how to circumvent the data retention scheme.
Beginning today, if you are Australian, everything you do online is being tracked, stored
ed, and retained for 2 years. https://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/digital-freedom-and-privacy/go-dark-against-data-retention/go-dark-against-data-retention …
