Commissioner says the new ‘hacking Bill’ that’s before Parliament will help the Federal Police take down those acting unlawfully.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Reece Kershaw has detailed to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee that the powers contained within the new “hacking Bill” will help it better uncover, identify, and target those profiting from online crime. The Surveillance Legislation Amendment (Identify and Disrupt) Bill 2020 will hand the AFP and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) three new computer warrants for dealing with online crime. The first of the warrants is a data disruption one; the second is a network activity warrant; and the third is an account takeover warrant. “In some circumstances, we’ll be able to disrupt or frustrate online offending with reduced harm and better outcomes for would be victims in the community,” Kershaw said, noting also the proliferation of the theft and sale of Australians identities and financial information on the “dark web”.
