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Australia’s Proposed Surveillance Laws Will Break the Trust Tech Depends On

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Re: Australia’s Proposed Surveillance Laws Will Break the Trust Tech Depends On

#11

Post by Osmanthus »

marcus_holmes wrote: post #6

Always find it amazing how strong the urge to authoritarianism is in Australia. You'd think we'd all be larrikins and chilled out on the beach inviting newcomers to the barbie. But no, we're apparently terrified of immigrants and love nothing more than the smack of firm leadership.

I think Australia received too many nationalistic Chinese, "They are not sending their best!" in Trump's voice, the best and brightest Chinese usually go to NA or EU, Australia is really the last resort as a Western country.

These Chinese generally are rich kids who only want the foreign diploma, and stash family wealth away from China.

So, good luck with that Chinese influence.

Re: Australia’s Proposed Surveillance Laws Will Break the Trust Tech Depends On

#12

Post by Intermernet »

Apparently, this was overseen by the Department of Home Affairs. The recently appointed PM of Australia (Scott Morrison) used to be the Minister for Home Affairs. His new appointment to the role (Peter Dutton) was one of the primary instigators in the recent power exchange (he actually wanted the top job for himself, but lost the party vote).

Considering the history of both of these men, I predict a grim history for Australia's privacy related laws. They're both staunchly pro-surveillance, anti-immigration (to the point of racism) and, I suspect, highly corrupt. I know that last statement is accusative, but Peter Dutton is currently embroiled in a situation where he released a French au pair and her partner from immigration detention because (allegedly) her prospective employer's second cousin lobbied the government to do so, and that family has donated large amounts of funds to the party. Meanwhile, others are held in sub-human conditions purely for trying to arrive in Australia as refugees, by boat. This situation is unfolding right now, but I doubt there will be any fallout.

Australia's current leadership was not voted in by the population of the country (as seems to be the trend for the last few years, no matter who you voted for), and seems to be set on an anti-privacy, liberty-destroying, nationalist agenda.

As an Australian, I'm incredibly embarrassed by all involved.

Re: Australia’s Proposed Surveillance Laws Will Break the Trust Tech Depends On

#13

Post by Arubis »

cascom wrote: post #10

I was planning on moving over to fast mail over Labor Day, not so sure now.

That’s an excellent point. I may not renew with them, and it has nothing to do with FastMail themselves.

Australia seems like precisely the right-sized society to be affected by pushback against this sort of behavior without being large enough to overwhelm outside opposition.

Re: Australia’s Proposed Surveillance Laws Will Break the Trust Tech Depends On

#14

Post by dfsegoat »

marcus_holmes wrote: post #6

Always find it amazing how strong the urge to authoritarianism is in Australia. You'd think we'd all be larrikins and chilled out on the beach inviting newcomers to the barbie. But no, we're apparently terrified of immigrants and love nothing more than the smack of firm leadership.

Just to support your point: The govt. also decided to seize everyone's firearms in 1996.

Re: Australia’s Proposed Surveillance Laws Will Break the Trust Tech Depends On

#15

Post by ajdlinux »

Intermernet wrote: post #12

Apparently, this was overseen by the Department of Home Affairs. The recently appointed PM of Australia (Scott Morrison) used to be the Minister for Home Affairs. His new appointment to the role (Peter Dutton) was one of the primary instigators in the recent power exchange (he actually wanted the top job for himself, but lost the party vote). Considering the history of both of these men, I predict a grim history for…

Small correction: Morrison was not Minister for Home Affairs, he was Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Dutton was appointed Minister for Home Affairs upon establishment of DHA at the end of 2017. Before the establishment of DHA, which merged Immigration with other "national security" matters, responsibility for general law enforcement matters, including the telecommunications interception laws, the metadata retention scheme, and so on, lay with the Attorney-General's Department, not the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

DHA is a portfolio that's more or less specifically designed to deliver policy like this and frame everything in terms of "national security". Even the DHA staff I personally know aren't fans of how the structure of the national security bureaucracy has changed over the last year.

My bigger problem here is lack of pushback from the Opposition. The "bipartisan consensus" on national security matters need not mean uncritical acceptance of badly-designed laws and inhumane policies.

Re: Australia’s Proposed Surveillance Laws Will Break the Trust Tech Depends On

#16

Post by bigkm »

dfsegoat wrote: post #14
marcus_holmes wrote: post #6

Always find it amazing how strong the urge to authoritarianism is in Australia. You'd think we'd all be larrikins and chilled out on the beach inviting newcomers to the barbie. But no, we're apparently terrified of immigrants and love nothing more than the smack of firm leadership.

Just to support your point: The govt. also decided to seize everyone's firearms in 1996.

Most of Australia was fine with this.

Re: Australia’s Proposed Surveillance Laws Will Break the Trust Tech Depends On

#17

Post by ajdlinux »

bigkm wrote: post #16
dfsegoat wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just to support your point: The govt. also decided to seize everyone's firearms in 1996.

Most of Australia was fine with this.

As an Australian, who has many issues with these surveillance laws, I'm also 100% behind our gun control.

Re: Australia’s Proposed Surveillance Laws Will Break the Trust Tech Depends On

#18

Post by marcus_holmes »

taneq wrote: post #9
marcus_holmes wrote: post #6

Always find it amazing how strong the urge to authoritarianism is in Australia. You'd think we'd all be larrikins and chilled out on the beach inviting newcomers to the barbie. But no, we're apparently terrified of immigrants and love nothing more than the smack of firm leadership.

All of the larrikins are now in their 60s and 70s and are terrified that anyone else might have the same fun that they had.

I think you might be right. It certainly feels that way.

Re: Australia’s Proposed Surveillance Laws Will Break the Trust Tech Depends On

#19

Post by Semaphor »

Arubis wrote: post #13
cascom wrote: post #10

I was planning on moving over to fast mail over Labor Day, not so sure now.

That’s an excellent point. I may not renew with them, and it has nothing to do with FastMail themselves. Australia seems like precisely the right-sized society to be affected by pushback against this sort of behavior without being large enough to overwhelm outside opposition.

So, what FastMail alternatives are there to be recommended?

Re: Australia’s Proposed Surveillance Laws Will Break the Trust Tech Depends On

#20

Post by gcb0 »

dfsegoat wrote: post #14
marcus_holmes wrote: post #6

Always find it amazing how strong the urge to authoritarianism is in Australia. You'd think we'd all be larrikins and chilled out on the beach inviting newcomers to the barbie. But no, we're apparently terrified of immigrants and love nothing more than the smack of firm leadership.

Just to support your point: The govt. also decided to seize everyone's firearms in 1996.

only the usa compares freedom with firearms ownership. this is slightly offtopic here.
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