Vic agency wants your data under retention scheme

Fears that the new Data Retention Act will become subject to scope creep have been vindicated by the news that Victoria’s Office of the Racing Integrity Commissioner is seeking warrant-free access to the scheme, Internet Australia has stated.

The consumer body has renewed its insistence that access to the content of personal communications information should be restricted only to regular law enforcement agencies.

“This is just what many people feared — the Data Retention Act only came into effect last month and we are already seeing attempts to widen its reach,” Internet Australia CEO Laurie Patton commented.

“If organisations such as the Office of the Racing Integrity Commissioner have genuine and well-placed reasons for needing access to this data they should be required to go via one of the existing law enforcement agencies with access, such as the Federal Police.”

Internet Australia has been a vocal critic of the Act since its inception. The body has previously called the Bill “deeply flawed” and recommended that the government hold a review of the legislation. One of its chief concerns is the level of control over who can access the data.

“We are not satisfied that there are proper safeguards in place to ensure against unlawful access from within those agencies currently listed,” Patton said. “The more agencies that have access the greater risk of misuse by rogue individuals.”

The Act went into effect last month, but in name only — few telecom service providers even had a plan ready to ensure compliance by the time the law took effect.

Image courtesy Paul under CC