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Australians' personal information accessed almost 300,000 times Australians' personal information accessed almost 300,000 times
(4 months later)
Forty one government departments and agencies - from police forces to the RSPCA - accessed metadata from Australians' phone calls and internet use 293,501 times in 2011-12, the Telecommunications (interceptions and access) act annual report reveals.Forty one government departments and agencies - from police forces to the RSPCA - accessed metadata from Australians' phone calls and internet use 293,501 times in 2011-12, the Telecommunications (interceptions and access) act annual report reveals.
The act allows organisations to apply for access to 'existing information or documents' which can include details of phone calls (but not the contents of the call) and internet access details such as subscribers' personal information, and dates and times of internet usage.The act allows organisations to apply for access to 'existing information or documents' which can include details of phone calls (but not the contents of the call) and internet access details such as subscribers' personal information, and dates and times of internet usage.
Police forces were the heaviest users - with the NSW police alone making 103,824 requests - almost three times more than they accessed the information the previous year. This is a massive 35% of all requests made in the 2011-12 financial year.Police forces were the heaviest users - with the NSW police alone making 103,824 requests - almost three times more than they accessed the information the previous year. This is a massive 35% of all requests made in the 2011-12 financial year.
Overall, authorisations of this type are on the increase, with a 20% year-on-year increase from the 2010-11 financial year to the 2011-2012 financial year.Overall, authorisations of this type are on the increase, with a 20% year-on-year increase from the 2010-11 financial year to the 2011-2012 financial year.
The non-police organisation with the most number of authorisations to access data was the Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission, at 7040.The non-police organisation with the most number of authorisations to access data was the Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission, at 7040.
The Customs Service accessed data 5,197 times and some government departments were also heavy users, including the tax office, the WA department of commerce and the Victorian department of primary industries. The RSPCA accessed data 63 times through branches in Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland.The Customs Service accessed data 5,197 times and some government departments were also heavy users, including the tax office, the WA department of commerce and the Victorian department of primary industries. The RSPCA accessed data 63 times through branches in Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland.
The Victorian Taxi Directorate, which regulates the taxi industry in Victoria, accessed data 18 times in 2010-2011.The Victorian Taxi Directorate, which regulates the taxi industry in Victoria, accessed data 18 times in 2010-2011.
The use of metadata was already well established in 2009-2010, when the report records it was accessed 243,631 times. There is no judicial oversight or requirement that law enforcers prove a suspicion of a crime being committed in order to get permission to access this data, and the Greens are introducing a bill to change this.The use of metadata was already well established in 2009-2010, when the report records it was accessed 243,631 times. There is no judicial oversight or requirement that law enforcers prove a suspicion of a crime being committed in order to get permission to access this data, and the Greens are introducing a bill to change this.
Here's the full list, sorted by the 2011-2012 financial year (or get it here):Here's the full list, sorted by the 2011-2012 financial year (or get it here):
See anything interesting? Let us know in the comments.See anything interesting? Let us know in the comments.
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