Australian Government Directs Tech Firms to Hand over Encrypted Data, Plans to Pass Laws

Authorities in Australia plan to pass laws aimed at directing major tech firms such as Google, Facebook, and Apple to share private encrypted data with police linked to suspected illegal activities, Reuters reported.

It was published on Thursday.

According to the report, the authorities are asked to pay fines up to A$10 million if they fail to share the private encrypted data. Therefore, the tech companies staunchly oppose the laws.

However, the laws are being backed by both major political parties in Australia, clearing the way for the nation to be among the first countries to introduce such rules.

The authorities have said that the proposed laws are needed to counter organised crimes and terror attacks. In other words, it will be easy for security agencies to access the data, once the laws in place, to thwart any untoward incident.

“These laws are used to catch the scum that would try to bring our country down and we can’t give them a leave pass,” Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on 2GB radio on Thursday.

“I do get a bit irritated when what sounds like very sophisticated arguments basically at the end of the day become a shield for the nastiest pieces of work you can think of,” the prime minister said.

According to the Reuters report, a final draft of the bill has not yet been tabled, however, the authorities are expected to take an action with regard to passing the bill.