Ludlam to raise TrapWire concerns at hearing
- 25 September, 2012 09:38
- Comments 5
Greens Senator Scott Ludlam isn’t backing down on the TrapWire controversy even after Australian government agencies denied they are using the surveillance system.
Recently leaked documents by Wikileaks lifted the lid on the TrapWire program, a surveillance system in the US, Canada and the UK that uses data from CCTV cameras to predict potential criminal activity. Since then, Ludlam has been asking whether Australian law enforcement uses the same system.
After the Senate denied a motion by Ludlam to require an answer from the prime minister, Ludlam sent his questions directly to several Australian law enforcement agencies. All of the agencies replied this month that they do not use TrapWire.
However, Ludlam does not appear ready to drop the government surveillance issue. The Greens senator plans to question the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Attorney-General department about TrapWire and similar technology at an upcoming budget estimates hearing 16 October, a Ludlam adviser told Computerworld Australia.
“The Department of Defence has not previously used, does not currently use, nor is considering using, the TrapWire surveillance system,” Minister for Defence, Stephen Smith, wrote in a response to Ludlam dated 11 September.
“ASIO does not engage in random monitoring of the Australian population,” wrote Attorney-General Nicola Roxon on 13 September. “ASIO's investigations are targeted against specific behaviours and activities relevant to security as defined in the ASIO Act.”
“The AFP is aware of the media reporting on TrapWire,” Roxon continued. “The AFP has no previous knowledge of that particular system, nor does the AFP use the system. The AFP has no procurement plans in place to acquire the system.”
“The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service has not in the past, do not currently and are not considering using the TrapWire surveillance system,” wrote Minister for Home Affairs, Jason Clare, in a 19 Sept response. Neither does the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, he said.
Follow Adam Bender on Twitter: @WatchAdam
Follow Computerworld Australia on Twitter: @ComputerworldAU, or take part in the Computerworld conversation on LinkedIn: Computerworld Australia
Recommended
- Bookmark this page
- Share this article
- Got more on this story? Email TechWorld
- Follow TechWorld on twitter
-
WikiLeaks Party closer to registering
-
WikiLeaks Party closer to registering
-
Philip's 'smart' lightbulbs hit Australia
-
Philip's 'smart' lightbulbs hit Australia
-
Australia lags Mongolia in Internet speeds
Comments
Trev
1
Just another stupid stunt by the greens. Anyone who votes for these turds has the IQ of a gnat and it seems Australia needs some serious insect spraying.
Jo Rivermouth
2
Ease off Trev. These are legitimate concerns. The questions are definitely worth asking. In recent years Aussie politicians have been too eager to undermine privacy and other individual rights in favour of the supposed 'public interest'.
lee
3
If other members of the 'echelon' group of nations use trapwire almost certainly Australia will use it..
Why are camera's located every few metres of customs corridors etc
Gazza
4
Good Grief folks, how many times in very explicit terms does the government have to answer to the 'conspiracy theorists' aka The Greens?
When is an emphatic NO not enough for these clowns?
I think some of the readers need to get help! oh, and take this clown Ludlum with you.
lee
5
Gazza - do you mind if in the future your face is read by every camera in Australia. C'mon this is not conspiracy - this is living in our times.