Australian Government Defends Data Retention Plans

Privacy? We don't need no stinking privacy.

Australia's Attorney-General Nicola Roxon has re-stated the case for a European-style data retention regime, arguing that there's no point bringing a knife to a gun fight when it comes to protecting Australia's interests. …

Her speech moved on to privacy and how it is, in her view, important "to strike a balance between ensuring we have the investigative tools needed to protect the community and individual privacy."

That balance, she argues, can be achieved even under a regime that allows data retention, because it is such a useful investigative tool.