Tools of digital surveillance and repression
Justice For Myanmar has obtained Ministry of Home Affairs budget files from 2018-21 and Ministry of Transport and Communications budget files from 2019-21, which include budgeted items for the Myanmar Police Force, Bureau of Special of Investigation under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Department of IT and Cyber Security under the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
Singapore changes the rules and will now use COVID-19 contact-tracing app data in criminal cases
The Singapore government has decided to use data gathered by its TraceTogether COVID-19-coronavirus contact-tracing app in criminal investigations.Minister of State for Home Affairs Desmond Tan by saying that Singapore’s Criminal Procedure Code means its Police can obtain any data for criminal investigations, including data gathered by TraceTogether.
Indian government is shutting down internet access in major cities in an attempt to disrupt democracy
NDTV reports that the Special Branch of the Delhi Police, under the direction of the Indian Government’s Ministry of Home Affairs, sent a letter to internet service providers and mobile data providers in India telling them to execute the internet shutdown.
Australia proposed using facial recognition technology for online gambling and pornography age verification
The Australian government’s Department of Home Affairs has proposed using facial recognition for online age verification for pornography and gambling websites visited by Australians as an update to Australia’s National Identity Security Strategy.
Attorney General Bill Barr Will Ask Zuckerberg To Halt Plans For End-To-End Encryption Across Facebook's Apps
Signed by Barr, UK Home Secretary Priti Patel, acting US Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan, and Australian Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton, the letter raises concerns that Facebook’s plan to build end-to-end encryption into its messaging apps will prevent law enforcement agencies from finding illegal activity conducted through Facebook, including child sexual exploitation, terrorism, and election meddling.
Home Affairs pushes for cyber spy powers
The Department of Home Affairs is pushing ahead with moves to expand the powers of Australia’s cyber spy agency, the Australian Signals Directorate, to potentially embed ASD within the corporate computer systems that run the nation’s banks, telecommunications and other critical infrastructure.
Australia's anti-encryption laws being used to bypass journalist protections, expert says
“In June 2019, the Australian federal police executed two search warrants in relation to secrecy offences in part 6 (offences by and against public officers) and part 7 (official secrets and unlawful soundings) of the Crimes Act,” the Department of Home Affairs stated.
Tech sector says Peter Dutton's encrypted message 'back door' will jeopardise digital security
That is why the Home Affairs Minister, Peter Dutton, has been so keen to pass laws forcing messaging companies to put "back doors" into their technology, allowing authorities to access these otherwise secret communications.