It’s All So Meta

By Gerald NcGrew on October 28, 2014 in Other

So it looks like we’re back onto the topic of privacy. Or are we? After watching Attorney-General George Brandis give the ‘Shithouse Interview of the Year’ about the new data retention policy back in August, it’s still hard to know what to think of it all. Even Malcolm Turnbull couldn’t ride in wearing his shining armour and make sense of it. I often fantasise that my views on the tech and online world are mildly knowledgeable, so as I read the various media stories about this hot topic one thing became abundantly clear. And that is, that nothing about it is clear.

So in an attempt to illuminate you, here’s my take on it all (best taken with a grain of salt)…

What data are they keeping?

According to ASIO, the official definition is metadata, or ‘noncontent data’. According to Brandis and Abbott, it’s everything electronic that you own, including the user manual for your microwave. Turnbull reiterates that it’s not what his colleagues said, it’s simply about what you’ve been doing online. Except it’s anonymous. It’s definitely not your web-browsing history, although Abbott kind of said it was. Fortunately his office later said it wasn’t, as you need a warrant for that stuff.

It also appears to be basically every piece of information about your emails except the words in them. And everything about the forums and chat rooms you visit except for what you say in them. It’s the names of apps you use. And for websites, emails, apps and other ‘online activity’ it will include when and where you were when you used them. And how long you were using them for. Oh, and also the IP address of the computer or smartphone you were using for all of these activities. Retaining your telephone call data is simpler. They’ll only retain details of the caller, who was called, and the time and duration of the call. Phew!

Hang on; who are ‘they’?

It’s a mixed bag. It includes the federal government, I presume the states, and even your local council. ASIO and various other spooks are in the thick of this too. And the telcos and ISPs are going to have to securely store all of this data, something they’ve cocked up repeatedly in the past. Weirdly, the telcos and ISPs (even the Privacy Commission?) are claiming ignorance about the whole thing.

How long is the data retained?

Two years. Perhaps. Once stored it’s subject to legislative change.

When is this all happening?

There’s been furious lobbying by the government, which is aiming to have this tied up by Christmas. Considering their efforts so far, I doubt they’ll have their collective shoelaces tied up by tomorrow morning.

What will it cost?

No one is saying exactly. Over the years, telcos and ISPs have proven adept at dodging infrastructure costs. Perhaps poor people could contribute some more?

Who will use the data?

The big question. The law enforcement and government agencies charged with our security are obvious candidates. This type of metadata was accessed 330,000 times in 2012-13. Considering the state of world affairs, and our growing realisation that David Hicks was a bit soft compared to current home-grown jihadists, surely it’s okay to provide government access to so much of our data?

I’m not sure. If we 100 percent knew that it was only going to be used against the baddies – now and later – then I say go for it. Yet no one can guarantee that, and no one can say how this data will eventually be used against the general populace.

So I, for one, welcome our new metadata overlords!