Internet

Bosses to spy on email users

The Federal Government has defended moves to give bosses new powers to monitor their workers' email and internet traffic.

Attorney-General Robert McClelland is considering introducing new internet surveillance laws for companies involved in critical infrastructure such as financial networks and electricity, water and transport.

The companies would not have to seek the consent of staff before monitoring their internet usage to detect security threats.

Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said yesterday that the new powers could help prevent terrorist strikes.

"We want to make sure that they are safe from terrorist attack," she told the Nine Network.

"Part of doing that is making sure we've got the right powers to ensure that we can tell if there's something unusual going on in the system.

"So it's a national security move, not a move about an unseemly interest in people's private emails."

The Opposition seemed divided on the proposal.

Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson said the idea appeared to have merit but he would need further information before agreeing to support it.

"I think all of us would be concerned about the privacy implications of this," Dr Nelson said.

"What I will be looking for is a full briefing from the Government and the relevant security agencies so we can actually have a look at what is being proposed, what the consequences might be for everyday Australians."

But shadow Attorney-General George Brandis took a harder line, saying private companies should not be given responsibility for monitoring staff emails and internet traffic to detect security threats.

"We would be most concerned if, as appears implicit in Mr McClelland's remarks, the effect of any such proposed changes was to impose on companies and employers a supervisory obligation which currently does not exist," he said.

Civil liberties groups said police and security agencies already had extensive internet and email monitoring powers.

Dale Clapperton, the chairman of online civil liberties group Electronic Frontiers Australia, said private companies should not take on policing roles.

"We don't think the Government has made the case for extending these powers, which are held by the police and ASIO, to private companies," Dr Clapperton said.

"We don't think giving companies dealing with critical infrastructure these types of quasi-police powers is appropriate and we don't think the powers would make any difference to Australia's cyber-security."

The Government has promised to consult widely before introducing the new laws in Parliament.

(Published by Herald Sun 14, 2008)