August 30, 2004

E-mails and SMS - about to be less private

A new law due to be debated in the Australian Senate today, allows many new government bodies to access private e-mails, voice-mail messages and SMS messages, reports The Herald Sun.

"Under present laws, unopened e-mails can only be accessed if they involve serious crime and only with a telecommunications intercept warrant.

If the Bill is passed, authorities would need only a search warrant, or in some cases no warrant at all, according to online civil liberties group Electronic Frontiers Australia.

EFA executive director Irene Graham said the amendment posed a serious threat to privacy."

emily | 10:39 AM | News, Buzz | Add this this entry to your del.icio.us bookmarks. Digg This Technorati search results for this Entry
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