FC: Australia: DNA samples taken from crime witnesses, phone privacy

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

[The article attributes the following sentiment to Police Minister Michelle 
Robert:"If people had not committed crimes they would have nothing to worry 
about." Perhaps Michelle will volunteer for forcible DNA testing herself? I 
hope she will have no objections when concerned citizens forcibly extract 
DNA from her children, parents, and relatives -- just in case. After all, 
if they committed no crimes, they should have nothing to worry about. 
Right? Not to mention the unintended consequences: People witnessing a 
crime may be more reluctant to call the cops or stick around to provide 
vital information, knowing they may be handing over their DNA by doing so. 
--Declan]

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From: "Russell B. Farr" <rustle () iinet net au>
Organization: Ticonderoga Publications
To: declan () well com
Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2002 07:09:27 +0800

Hi Declan,

This may be of interest to the Politech list.

POLICE have been given far-reaching powers to take DNA samples from
witnesses and victims of crime as well as suspects.

Under the Criminal Investigation (Identifying People) Act 2002, which
became law at midnight, police can forcibly take a DNA sample when a
person refuses to give one.

http://www.thewest.com.au/20021120/news/state/tw-news-state-home-sto79302.html

(sorry, URL breaks over the line).

Cheers!
Russell

+-+-+-+-+- Somewhere in Narrogin Brewing +-+-+-+-+-+
+- http://members.iinet.net.au/~rustle/WPA +- Writer
+- http://members.iinet.net.au/~rustle +-+-+-+- Punk
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Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2002 16:30:40 +1100
From: Red Wolf <redwolf () redwolf com au>
Organization: Red Wolf Web Design
To: declan () well com
Subject: Article: Telstra defends eavesdropping

hey Declan

Thought you'd find this of interest for the Politechbot list.

Australians don't have to just worry about the law enforcement community 
spying on them, we also have to contend with the telecommunications 
industry abusing their rights.

I guess the moral of the story is: don't complain about bad phone service 
if you value your privacy.

Jodi Red Wolf

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http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,5525314%5E15306%5E%5Enbv%5E,00.html

Telstra defends eavesdropping
Wires
NOVEMBER 20, 2002

TELSTRA did not tap customers' phones but had the right to listen in to 
conversations if people complained about a fault, the telecommunications 
giant said.

Telstra admitted the company had listened in to the phone calls of Brisbane 
businesswoman Ann Garms during a dispute with the company in the early 
1990s, and passed the information on to lawyers.

But Telstra managing director of corporate and human resources Bill Scales 
took offence at senators asking about Telstra's phone tapping policy during 
an estimates committee hearing.

He said Telstra had only been trying to fix Mrs Garms' phone line and would 
do the same for any customer who complained about a fault.

[...]




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