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Cops’ data-without-borders law under review

The legislation allowing US and Australian law enforcement authorities to seize data from people’s social media and emails accounts to counter serious crime will be reviewed by Parliament’s joint...

Govt moves to repeal ACIC’s data disruption powers

11 March 2026 | by Justin Hendry

The federal government has moved to repeal laws granting the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission sweeping powers to disrupt criminal networks and harvest intelligence from online platforms used by organised...

Hacking powers handed out without safeguard, review finds

1 September 2025 | by Joseph Brookes

Controversial hacking powers handed to authorities in 2021 have never had an effective main safeguard, a statutory review has determined, after finding dozens of warrants are being handed out...

‘Cat and mouse’: Police use hacking powers to disrupt botnets

20 February 2025 | by Justin Hendry

Policing hacking powers have helped thwart botnet attacks involving thousands of hijacked devices, preventing future crimes at scale, according to the Australian Federal Police. The example was offered up...

Top lawyers call for repeal of police ‘data disruption’ powers

19 February 2025 | by Justin Hendry

Controversial laws allowing police to modify or delete the data in the online accounts of criminals should be axed, according to lawyers, who argue the measures give authorities powers...

National security watchdog mulls new limits on hacking powers

3 December 2024 | by Justin Hendry

The national security legislation watchdog is considering whether Australia’s peak criminal intelligence agency needs controversial powers that allow it to take over the online accounts of criminals and hack...

Police ‘takeover’ powers used for first terrorism offences

29 November 2024 | by Justin Hendry

Online account takeover powers were used to fight terrorism for the first time last year, with the federal police using controversial identify and disrupt laws to secretly gather evidence....

Federal police report covert online monitoring with new ‘takeover’ powers

24 November 2023 | by Joseph Brookes

Federal police were issued three warrants to secretly assume control of a person’s online account last financial year to gather evidence about death threats and child abuse material, according...

Crime-fighting AI research centre launches at Monash Uni

5 September 2023 | by Brandon How

A new research centre focused on AI-powered law enforcement initiatives has been set up by the Australian Federal Police and Monash University. The AI for Law Enforcement and Community...

AFP warned about PwC leaks in 2018

31 May 2023 | by Joseph Brookes

The federal police declined to pursue an investigation into the PwC tax leaks scandal in 2019, despite the Tax Office providing it with evidence one of the firm’s former...

Tag: AFP

Govt moves to repeal ACIC’s data disruption powers

Hacking powers handed out without safeguard, review finds

‘Cat and mouse’: Police use hacking powers to disrupt botnets

Top lawyers call for repeal of police ‘data disruption’ powers

National security watchdog mulls new limits on hacking powers

Police ‘takeover’ powers used for first terrorism offences

Federal police report covert online monitoring with new ‘takeover’ powers

Crime-fighting AI research centre launches at Monash Uni

AFP warned about PwC leaks in 2018

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Tag: AFP