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. 
>
>
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