Why? They aren't offering an end-to-end encrypted service, so as far as I know Australia's laws aren't much worse than, say, the US' laws in this regard.
Recent (2018) Australian data encryption laws are insane and archaic. It allows law enforcement to force individuals (including but not limited to developers) or companies to build a back door and requires them not to tell any one, including their employers. I'm not saying the US is better or worse, or that the UK (where I live) is better or worse. I'm raising awareness as not a lot of people know about their data encryption laws.
Personally I'd wanted to move to Australia but stopped chasing that due to their data encryption laws.
Privacy vs. security... it's a complicated. Nobody cares that the police can tap a phone line... so by that logic, why can't they tap any other communication medium?
But... what I do know is that the Australian government is not the one to solve the problem. They're a small market, without a lot of technical expertise... having lived in Sydney for some time now... I know you don't want the Australian government involved in tech.
I agree but Australia was trying to pass a law that said they could request encrypted data but the platform was legally not allowed to disclose that such a request/action happened. Even if we had this transparency today, it would quickly become illegal.
This law is extremely concerning but I don't see a way for it to be used against communications that are encrypted by a VPN, where that VPN is based outside Australia (most if not all VPN providers are). The Australian government has no power to compel a foreign company to do anything.
I wish they would setup servers in another country, say Iceland (since they have some there already).
Also, I'm thinking that Australia may not be an ideal jurisdiction if you want to run an email company that cares about privacy. The offering will never get any better than the worst of national laws [weakest link argument].
I’m guardedly in favour. I see how well it works in Estonia and think, “Hey, that would be great in AUS.” I also think of Australia’s global leadership in putting laws online.
Then I think of the recent governments, and various execution fiascos like NBN and I think that this could turn into mandatory spyware, or more likely a half-witted rort.
The worst is that it seems clear that, while this could be done in a wonderfully privacy-preserving way, it’s more likely to be a leaky, non-private implementation.
Who could have guessed that laws which turn encryption into a legal quagmire in Auatralia would make companies that do encryption things less interested in working in Australia ...
Of course, my point was just that it had nothing to do with encryption or the recent laws subverting encryption in Australia. It's worth noting, because you can be sure we will be used as an example to try and push these kinds of laws in other countries.
It’s traditional stereotypical “she’ll be right mate” image is far from reality. Hugely litigious, lots of red tape, if there is a fine for something you will be fined.
The ex prime minister stood in parliament and said “The laws of mathematics are very commendable, but the only law that applies in Australia is the law of Australia,” in regards to wanting to back door encryption. That’s what you are dealing with.
Oz is probably the worst possible location for any kind of data other than China or North Korea due to their new encryption law. I realize that wasn’t the case 5 years ago.
This is the same country whose prime minister tried to ban encryption because "the laws of mathematics are very commendable" but should nevertheless be subservient to the laws of Australia
This seems quite similar to the Australian Assistance and Access Bill [0], which also compels companies to implement new solutions that enable decryption services. This bill also makes it illegal for a compelled person to communicate this order, even to their own company.
Seems like the old trope of Australia being the squishy testbed for shitty US laws is true after all.
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