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Aust.: Planned Phone Tap Laws Threaten Press22 February 2006
Planned Phone Tap Laws Threaten Press Freedom http://www.alliance.org.au/
SYDNEY (MEAA/Pacific MediaWatch): If federal government plans to give its securityagencies new phone-tapping powers are accepted, journalistsmust assume that their conversations with sources will beintercepted, says Australia's media union.
This excessivethreat to press freedom will not only deter confidentialsources but may also lead to a culture of self-censorship.
The legislation to be introduced into Parliament todayallows spies, police and other security agencies to not onlytap the phones of third parties to suspected terroristplots, but also intercept emails, SMS and monitor mobilecalls.
"What is particularly concerning about thislegislation is that anyone who interacts with the suspectsof serious crime - not those proven guilty - can come undersurveillance. The rights of innocent third parties isjeopardised by this excessive and invasive proposal," saidMedia, Entertainment and Arts Alliance federal secretaryChristopher Warren.
For journalists who cover politics,crime or security issues, these laws pose a particularthreat to their work. At any time police could be listeningto their conversations, obliterating any professional rightthe journalist has to protect the confidentiality of hissource.
"Without public faith in the journalists' promiseto protect sources, much crucial information in the publicinterest would not come to light," said Warren.
"Thegovernment's attempt to destroy this trust will result infewer people speaking out and a public left with nothing butgovernment spin and other media stunts."
The governmentalready has powers under the Telecommunications(Interception) Amendment (Stored Communications) Act 2004 toobtain a warrant to access stored communications, includingSMS, MMS (multimedia message), email and voicemail messages.That in itself poses a threat to the anonymity ofjournalists' sources.
"This new law, like the recentlyenacted anti-terror laws, is unnecessary given thelegislation already in place to gather evidence in relationto crime suspects. There is no reason to take that a stepfurther and inhibit civil rights and press freedom," saidWarren.
"More than ever we rely on our media to providethe public with clear and accurate information to engage inpublic debate. It is our democratic right to do so. It seemsthe government is intent to listen in on our conversationsbut it could be asked: are they actuallylistening?"
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Pilger and Simpson Urge Journalists to Drop 'Stone Age' and 'Primative - John Pilger and BBC World Affairs editor John Simpson have urged fellow journalists not to use terms such as 'stone age' and 'primitive' to describe contemporary tribal peoples, in a letter published in the Financial Times. 'These terms are dangerous because, aside from being often implicitly pejorative, they are used to justify the persecution of tribal people,' the letter states. 'Governments, such as in Indonesia and Botswana, claim that forcibly 'developing' tribes is for their own good and helps them to 'catch up' with the 'civilized' world. The results are almost always catastrophic for those involved.' See... Pilger and Simpson Urge Journalists to Drop 'Stone Age' and 'Primative
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Scoop Review: David Robie's Book Is A Must Read For All Pacific Peoples - If you have not yet bought or read Eyes Of Fire, you really owe it to yourself to do so. The memorial edition of David Robie s Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage of the Rainbow Warrior is an in depth look at the last voyage of the Rainbow Warrior. Originally published in 1986, it brings the era to life in a way that a more retrospective book could not do. Robie himself lived that last journey through the Pacific on board the Warrior. See... Eyes Of Fire: When Nuclear Wars Came To Town
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