[AusNOG] (Abuse of) mandatory data retention information.

[Ross Wheeler]

<heresay>
I was recently talking to a guy who had been talking to a guy who works 
for an Australian ISP, and the comment was made that a police officer 
local to the ISP had made a request for information relating to an 
individual (background explained to me was it was during a messy divorce, 
and allegedly by a person known to or related to the officer).

The ISP was dubious about providing the information and contacted the AGs 
department for guidance and was told (again, so I'm informed) that "Give 
it to them, it will be picked up in the Audit process".

Questions that immediately arise from that include:
* Wasn't there supposed to be a small number of individuals appointed
   by the commmissioner of police who would be making these requests?
* I understood that individual officers would not ever be permitted
   to make these requests anyway.
* Has anyone ever heard of any audit happening?
* If there hasn't been, why not?
* If the information as reported is in fact accurate in all material
   regards, shouldn't "heads roll"?
* Where's the accountability, the checks-and-balances citizens were
   all assured were included in this legislation?

This apparently happened almost a year ago, so saying "Give them time, 
it'll happen" seems unlikely now...

(Who watches the watcher?)

R.