Security derangement complex: technology companies and Australia’s anti-encryption law

Shorten's deputy, Tanya Plibersek, was keen to lay the ground for Thursday's capitulation to the government earlier in the week. A range of "protections" had been inserted into the legislation at the behest of the Labor Party. (Such brimming pride!) The Attorney-General Christian Porter was praised – unbelievably – for having accepted their sagacious suggestions. The point was elementary: Labor, not wanting to be seen as weak on law enforcement, had to be seen as accommodating.

Porter found himself crowing. "This ensures that our national security and law enforcement agencies have the modern tools they need, the appropriate authority and oversight, to access the encrypted conversations of those who seek to do us harm."

International authorities versed in the area are looking at the Australian example with jaw dropping concern. EU officials will find the measure repugnant on various levels, given the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) laws in place. Australian technology companies are set to be designated appropriate pariahs, as are other technology companies willing to conduct transactions in Australia. All consumers are being treated as potential criminals, an attitude that does not sit well with entities attempting to make a buck or two.

SwiftOnSecurity, an often canonical source on cyber security matters, is baffled. "Over in Australia they're shooting themselves in the face with a shockingly technical nonsensical encryption backdoor law." Not only does the law fail to serve any useful protections; it "poison-pills their entire domestic tech industry, breaks imports."

Li's point, again something which the Australian government insists upon, was that the Chinese law did not constitute a "backdoor" through encryption protections. Every state official merely wanted to get those "bad people" while sparing the "good". The Tor Project is far more enlightening: "There are no safe backdoors." An open declaration on the abolition of privacy in Australia has been made; a wonderfully noxious Christmas present for the Australian electorate.