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Thought this may be of interest to those who have not seen it.<br>
<br>
Regards<br>
Shane<br>
<br>
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<br>
Shane –
<br>
<br>
It's happening. The Government's data retention scheme looks set
to pass the Senate tonight, with Labor's support. If this happens,
it's a terrible outcome for Australians, and the media and
whistleblowers who keep us informed.
<br>
<br>
This scheme is rushed, costly, ineffective, and against the public
interest. A lazy amendment from the ALP - purportedly to prevent
this dodgy data bill from having a freezing effect on the media -
has as many holes in it as a slice of Swiss cheese. It leaves
journalists and whistleblowers largely unprotected,<sup>1</sup>
and will see every one of us treated as a potential suspect.
Essentially, it punishes the wrong people. But as the Government
and Labor team up to rush the legislation through the Senate, we
have a way of getting their attention by illustrating just how
problematic this bill really is. <br>
<br>
<b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/privacy/go-dark-against-data-retention/go-dark-against-data-retention?t=njyZ5SjZD&utm_content=7635&utm_campaign=You%20can%27t%20handle%20the%20data&utm_source=blast&utm_medium=email">Can
you join us in 'going dark' against data retention tomorrow to
protest the Government's dangerous and ineffective scheme?</a></b>
<br>
<br>
The message we're sending is clear. In its haste to rush these
broad sweeping laws, <b>the Government's costly scheme has
targeted all of us while ignoring just how easy it is to
circumvent data retention.</b> The truth is, anyone who wants to
protect their privacy (yes, this includes people with something to
hide) has a huge range of perfectly legal options to do so,
including simply avoiding Australian service providers. Now that's
just bad for business!
<br>
<br>
The impact of this is that Australians familiar with technology
will easily be able to protect their data, while those that aren't
as comfortable with newer technology will bear the brunt of the
risks associated with data retention. <br>
<br>
<b>Across Australia tomorrow, citizens will be showing the
government and Labor that this law will be another costly white
elephant that doesn't make us any safer.</b>
<br>
<br>
<b>Click here to sign up and learn how to go dark: <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/privacy/go-dark-against-data-retention/go-dark-against-data-retention?t=njyZ5SjZD&utm_content=7635&utm_campaign=You%20can%27t%20handle%20the%20data&utm_source=blast&utm_medium=email">http://www.getup.org.au/dark</a></b>
<br>
<br>
Alycia, for the GetUp team. <br>
<br>
PS: If you've just got a moment, <b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://cdn.getup.org.au/991-PROF-PIC-%281%29-%281%29.jpg?t=njyZ5SjZD&utm_content=7635&utm_campaign=You%20can%27t%20handle%20the%20data&utm_source=blast&utm_medium=email">change
your Facebook and Twitter profile picture to this image to
help spread the word.</a></b>
<br>
<br>
PPS: Even the Government's Communications Minister Malcolm
Turnbull understands how important metadata is and how easy it is
to avoid scrutiny. He has fessed up to using an instant messaging
app which avoids retention, and joked last year that private
networks (VPNs) could be used to circumvent data retention laws.
By contrast, our Prime Minister recalls never being that worried
about metadata back when he was a journalist in the 1980's... at a
time that pre-dated widespread internet and mobile phone use.<sup>2</sup>
Go figure! <br>
<br>
<i>References</i>
<br>
<br>
[1] Data retention plan amended for journalists, but is it enough?
The Conversation, 20th March 2015.
<br>
[2] Data retention: Journalists' union labels Tony Abbott's
defence of metadata protections 'ludicrous', ABC News, Wednesday
18th March 2015.<br>
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