Australians deeply concerned over decryption Bill

Nearly three-quarters (74.2%) of Australians are concerned that the government’s proposed decryption Bill would weaken the security of their sensitive personal information, including healthcare and banking data.

In addition, 80% are concerned about the wide scope of powers implied in the Bill, including the ability to allow the government to force companies to change their products and services to enable the interception and collection of their knowledge without requiring a warrant.

These are among the key findings of a survey conducted by ReachTEL on behalf of the Alliance for a Safe and Secure Internet, a group of consumer and industry representatives and human rights organisations founded to oppose the introduction of the legislation in its current form.

The survey also found that 84.8% of Australians believe it is important that anything the government does to combat crime should not create weaknesses in Australia’s online security systems.

“The government has a serious problem on its hands — their constituents across the country see the clear danger of the Encryption Bill,” commented Lizzie O’Shea, a board member of non-profit group Digital Rights Watch, an Alliance member.

“We continue to call for the Bill to be rejected in its current form as it represents a danger to our cybersecurity.”

Communications Alliance CEO John Stanton, another Alliance member, said the survey found that 73.2% of Australians do not believe the government should have access to personal data that exceeds standards in other developed countries.

“If passed in its current form, the proposed Encryption Bill would be a first of its kind globally, with the government granting itself unprecedented powers to direct communications providers, hardware manufacturers, telcos and technology companies to install or develop interception mechanisms without telling anyone affected by these changes,” he said.

The Alliance is urging the government to conduct a genuine consultative process on the proposed legislation before rushing it through.

Other Alliance members include the Information Technology Professionals Association (ITPA), the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN), the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), Amnesty International Australia, the Human Rights Law Centre, Internet Australia and IoT Alliance Australia.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/raccoondaydream

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