Dear friends across Australia,
Every email password, web search, and text message you’ve typed in the last two years could be accessed by the government if a new plan passes Parliament. Party leaders have asked for public comment before taking sides on the Attorney General’s proposal. Let’s make the message clear: hands off our passwords! Sign the petition and share it with everyone:
E-banking files? They want those. Email passwords? Definitely want those. Cell phone records? Hand ‘em over! Yes, it sounds insane but the Attorney General wants access to the phone and Internet data of every Australian going back two years. Now together we can derail this unprecedented power grab before it becomes law.
If the proposed reforms pass, the government will have broad powers to spy on anyone's private lives, including investigative journalists, or activists like many of us. But leaders from both parties say they want to hear from the public before making a decision about the plan -- let's flood them with objections during the current consultation process and prevent this outrageous threat to our privacy from getting a rubber-stamp from Parliament.
We know our voices can make a difference. Last spring, thousands of us petitioned a government inquiry and won recommendations for an independent media regulator. Let's win again and save our passwords! We don't have much time left -- click below to sign the petition opposing the proposal and share it with everyone -- once the petition reaches 100,000 signers we'll hire lawyers to defend our case before an upcoming parliamentary hearing:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/internet_privacy_under_attack/?bGglBbb&v=16075
Across the political spectrum, people agree that we need to balance our national security with our right to privacy, but the Attorney General’s proposal goes way overboard -- giving government spies almost unfettered access to the online accounts of all Australians. They could read our email and text messages, or listen-in on our Skype conversations and instant messages. And storing all that data in one central location (making a pretty exciting target for hackers) makes us more vulnerable to an attack by criminal hackers and identity thieves.
The parliamentary committee considering these changes has opened the door to public comments, but without a wave of opposition, both parties will be looking to score political points with a “tough on crime” message. The Attorney General says that we need to update law enforcement to catch up with new technology, but catching crooks online shouldn't require prying into years of everyone's private lives.
We know that broad public support combined with sound legal arguments is a winning recipe for keeping our government accountable. Weigh in on this dangerous plan to invade our privacy by signing the petition and sending it to everyone:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/internet_privacy_under_attack/?bGglBbb&v=16075
Together, tens of thousands of us have influenced our government’s inquiries on everything from media reform to the protection of our oceans. Let’s join forces again to keep our lives online private.
With hope,
Brant, David, Luis, Emma, Ricken, Michelle and the whole Avaaz team
MORE INFORMATION
Privacy fears as surveillance law reviewed (The Australian)
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/privacy-fears-as-surveillance-law-reviewed/story-fn3dxiwe-1226423605766
Australian authorities propose broad expansion of government surveillance powers (Slate)
http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2012/07/11/australian_authorities_propose_broad_expansion_of_government_surveillance_powers_.htm
New web spy powers: for and against (The Age)
http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/new-web-spy-powers-for-and-against-20120712-21y34.html
Government unveils huge wishlist of new surveillance powers (Crikey)
http://www.crikey.com.au/2012/07/10/government-unveils-huge-wishlist-of-new-surveillance-powers/
Inquiry into potential reforms of National Security Legislation (Parliament)
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Committees?url=pjcis/nsl2012/index.htm
