“All data, like IP addresses visited and location information for phones, must be retained for at least two years—and is accessible without a warrant. But more data is available with a judge’s permission, and so Australian magistrates have duly issued more warrants authorizing data collection than their allies in the war on terror…
But as reviews by academics and by the national attorney general’s office have revealed, the vast majority of data request have nothing to do with extremism lurking on the internet or online-bred terrorism. Instead, Australian police are monitoring citizens’ web browser histories and cellphone records to pursue drug dealers and drug users…
Metadata surveillance and collection programs have been sold as measures to fight terrorism and extremism by every Western government since 9/11/01. In practice, these tools of total surveillance are being used for everyday drug crime, with matters of “terrorism” taking the backseat. Why sell it as a national security matter rather than a tool to fight drug crime? It more than likely wouldn’t get legislative approval.
