IP: ASIO cleared to hack into computers [NO COMMENT cept hope it does happen here djf]

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

> Date: Fri, 26 Mar 1999 17:59:44 +0200 (EET)
> From: Mahou Shoujo Pixy Misa <waste () zor hut fi>
> To: cypherpunks () toad com
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Thu, 25 Mar 1999 19:04:27 -0700 (MST)
> From: mea culpa <jericho () dimensional com>
> To: InfoSec News <isn () repsec com>
> Subject: [ISN] ASIO cleared to hack into computers
>
>
> Forwarded From: Nicholas Brawn <nick () citadel com au>
>
> http://www.smh.com.au/news/9903/26/pageone/pageone3.html
>
> Friday, March 26, 1999
> ASIO cleared to hack into computers
> By BERNARD LAGAN and BEN POWER 
>
> Australia's domestic spy agency, ASIO, will be given sweeping powers to
> hack into computers and place tracking devices on people and cars. 
>
> In the most far-reaching upgrade in a decade to ASIO's powers, the agency
> will also be permitted to collect foreign intelligence in Australia and
> pass the information to the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS),
> the foreign spy agency. 
>
> The Federal Government is acting on the recommendations of a secret report
> by ASIO's former deputy director, Mr Gerard Walsh, which was mistakenly
> sent to public libraries and published on the Internet late last year. 
>
> His report - copies of which were later recalled by the Attorney-General's
> Department - urged that ASIO be given the power to "hack" a nominated
> computer system to "secure access to that system or evidence of an
> electronic attack on a computer system". 
>
> The Attorney-General, Mr Williams, told Parliament yesterday the agency
> would be able to access data stored on computers "through other means
> which cannot presently be used". 
>
> The changes will allow ASIO officers, with ministerial approval, to gain
> access to data stored in computers by "remote access" - commonly referred
> to as hacking. 
>
> The change appears to give ASIO very broad powers to hack into any
> computer system. 
>
> An explanatory memorandum issued by the Government about the changes says:
> "The effect is to provide the minister with the power to authorise ASIO to
> access and copy computer data where unauthorised access is otherwise
> prohibited by Commonwealth or State or Territory law." 
>
> For the first time ASIO will have the powers to install tracking devices
> on vehicles or even people - the devices are small beacons which transmit
> signals to other locations. 
>
> Mr Williams told Parliament the devices were necessary for the more
> efficient use of ASIO's resources. 
>
> The Walsh report had strongly urged that ASIO be allowed to use tracking
> devices, saying "the absence of this investigative tool is a privation for
> the Australian Federal Police, the National Crime Authority and ASIO". 
>
> Other changes will allow ASIO to expand its foreign intelligence gathering
> within Australia by dispensing with the present need for it to obtain a
> special warrant for each case. 
>
> According to the Government the change will allow ASIO to supplement
> foreign intelligence gathered by other agencies, such as ASIS. 
>
> ASIO will be able to use information from the Australian Transaction
> Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) to follow money trails. 
>
> The changes also mean ASIO will be permitted to carry out security
> assessments during the Olympics. 
>
>
> -o-
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