Rushed encryption laws create risk of unintended consequences and overreach
7 December 2018
While the encryption access legislation rammed through the Senate is an improvement, there is now the very real possibility of unintended consequences as well as intelligence agency and law enforcement overreach.
Law Council of Australia President, Morry Bailes, said that while the peak legal body supported the purpose of the laws in order to keep us safe, we must not weaken the rule of law in the process.
“We now have a situation where unprecedented powers to access encrypted communications are now law, even though Parliament knows serious problems exist,” Mr Bailes said.
“This is what happens when you compromise an established committee process and allow the work of Parliament to be rushed and politicised.
“Next year, as well as passing the remaining amendments, the intelligence and security committee needs to be brought back into the frame to get these laws right.
“We are deeply troubled that the committee was pushed to produce a report that appears to be incomplete and lacking in reasoning for its recommendations.
“The committee must now be given the time it needs to ensure there are no unintended consequences, which could be to the detriment of us all,” Mr Bailes said.
Mr Bailes said there is now the possibility of overreach by intelligence and law enforcement.
“It’s not just the rights of citizens that are potentially compromised by this outcome, but intelligence agencies and law enforcement that are at risk of acting unlawfully.
“We have seen recent examples in the High Court where a permanent stay of prosecution has been imposed because Commonwealth agencies acted beyond their power,” Mr Bailes said.
Despite some of the Law Council’s concerns being addressed, serious concerns include:
- Circumventing the need for law enforcement and intelligence agencies to obtain a warrant by permitting ‘technical assistance requests’ or ‘voluntary assistance requests’ on designated communications providers to conduct actions like intercepts;
- Allowing law enforcement or ASIO to effectively detain individuals to provide ‘compulsory assistance’ without the necessary safeguards necessary for detention, inducing being allowed to contact a lawyer;
- Failing to make clear that legal professional privilege is protected in all circumstances; and
- Allowing senior bureaucrats at ASIO to confer civil immunity, instead of the A-G.
“Law enforcement and ASIO should not be allowed to bypass the need to obtain a warrant when intercepting communications. Law enforcement and ASIO should not be permitted to detain people without allowing them to contact a lawyer,” Mr Bailes said.
“It also appears unclear as to when law enforcement should use ‘technical assistance requests' as opposed to seeking a warrant from a Court.”
Media contacts:
Patrick Pantano: Public Affairs
P. 02 6246 3715 E. Patrick.Pantano@lawcouncil.au
Anil Lambert
P. 0416 426 722 E. Anil@hortonadvisory.com.au
Last Updated on 07/12/2018
Share
Related Documents
Tags
Most recent items
Law Council
Freedom of expression crucial to democracy
Law Council
AML/CTF Bill requires careful scrutiny
Law Council
Vale the late Honourable Justice Malcolm Blue KC
Trending Items
Law Council
Removal of dual regulation to reduce costs for consumers
Law Council