Data Retention: Really the Solution?
In the last few months, a new law has been proposed by the Australian Government. This law, called the ‘Data Retention Policy’, has been created in the name of preventing terrorism on Australian soil.
I’m unsure as to the logic behind this proposal.
The fact is; it has been nearly 30 years since a fatal terrorist strike on Australian soil. Since the first appearance of modern terrorism in the 1960’s, less than 20 people have died in Australia. So I wonder why we need such a policy, one that will be treading on our civil rights to basic privacy.
For those of you that are unaware of what this law could mean, I’ll explain. The Data Retention Policy makes it a legal requirement for ISP’s (Internet Service Providers) to retain data history on their clients for a set time period, usually two years. In other words, every phone number, every email address, every ISP number attached to your person. This collected data is then made available to security and law enforcement agencies to identify possible threats to the public.
What if you are a high-school student that has to write an essay on terrorist groups for social studies, or investigate explosive chemicals for science class? How would one conduct proper research over, say, the internet or discuss the information over the phone to a classmate over a long duration and not be highlighted as someone planning to blow something up?
In the past decade both the USA and several European countries such as England have also undergone similar proposals. After much public backlash a voluntary scheme was implemented in England. The proposal has been dropped or shelved in most of the other cases as a violation of human rights.
Data Retention Policies like the one now facing Australia violate basic civil rights to privacy. Once a law such as this one is passed what is preventing a future law being passed that enforces the examination of web history? What is preventing our every text, email and communication being analyzed for a darker intent?
How far do we go until we are no longer considered citizens of our country, but suspects?
The first thing any invading force will do is restrict the movement of the people it is occupying. Curfews are often implemented, lists of who lives where/is involved with who are created and those that are identified as troublemakers are removed. This has happened all through history. It happened in the World Wars. The most important thing here, is that information is gathered. When you know your opposition, it makes it that much more easier to make things happen the way you want them to.
This ‘invasion’ is not one of land or country. It is one of simple privacy.
The Data Retention Policy may be being proposed as a way to fight terrorism, to prevent further lives lost. I am full aware of the tragedies that have been conducted in the name of terrorism. It is a brutal and horrific thing. But I don’t believe that the Data Retention Proposal is the way to counter it. By building a database with that much information, you create something that can be hacked and/or used for less noble causes.
We have to ask ourselves how far we are willing to go to subscribe to ‘safety’. How high a cost are we willing to pay?
