http://www.news.com.au/national/government-rallies-behind-spy-agencies-claims-me...Government rallies behind spy agencies - claims metadata sent to overseas networks rejected by senior sources
5 HOURS AGODECEMBER 02, 2013 6:59PM
ASIO Headquarters being built in Canberra - Aerials photographs of Canberra ACT Source: News Limited
THE Government today swung behind Australia's security network to rebuff a fresh round of leaks accused our spies of sending "metadata" information on ordinary citizens to intelligence agencies overseas.
Senior source dismissed as "wrong'' the allegations, carried by the Guardian website after leaks by former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, and insisted no laws had been broken.
It was not new that security agencies such as ASIO collected the metadata but there was no evidence they did it illegally or sent it overseas to the so-called Five Eyes intelligence partners - New Zealand, Britain, Canada and the US - in 2008 as the leaks suggested.
And the Government rallied behind the intelligence agencies at a time when it's operations have been opened to unprecedented public scrutiny and comment caused by the leaking of US secrets.
Australia's spy networks have helped jail more than 40 terrorists over the past decade - 23 of them in Australia in the past four years - and thwarted "a number of mass casualty attacks''.
"Metadata'' is information about communications which does not reveal the content of those communications. This includes ISP identifiers, the time and date of emails and telephone calls, and the people who received the calls and emails.
But the contents of the calls - not even the material in the subject line - is revealed without a specific warrant.
The material collected has been likened to the address on the envelope, the name of the recipient, and the details in the post mar, but not the letter itself.
Foreign intelligence networks are unlikely to be interested in the metadata, but would be sent any intelligence refined from the information.
Attorney-General George Brandis today argued there had been no illegal activity and dismissed the Guardian reports.
He told the Senate the document leaked by "traitor'' Edward Snowden was unverified. The Government would continue the practice of not commenting on intelligence matters.
"I also note that the unverified document is described as a draft document which, contrary to the reports, does not report or record any activity by any Australian agency,'' said Senator Brandis.
He referred to the oversight of intelligence operations by ministers and the Parliament, and praised the work of our spy networks in stopping terrorist attacks.
"The purpose of all of Australia's intelligence activity and the co-operation of its intelligence agencies is to serve Australia's national interests and protect Australian citizens,'' said Senator Brandis.
"And can I by way of illustration point out Australian authorities have disrupted terrorist planning in Australia and thwarted a number of mass casualty attacks as a result of there activities, 23 people have been convicted on terrorist offences in Australia in the last four years.
"Australia's intelligence has also helped to prevent four attacks in South East Asia in the last decade and contributed to the arrest within South East Asia of over 20 terrorists.
"The Government is confident that the Australian intelligence agencies will act in accordance with the law and always in the service of the national interest."
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thats nice to know isnt it...
so as long as you dont have jesuit freemasons
writing laws, you have no problems
keep voting
and be at peace
namaste
ॐ
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