[MLB-WIRELESS] A letter I got....

[Robert Tchia]

Maybe it's a good time for the committee to speak to AG dept to clarify
this matter.


Cheers
Rob

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-melbwireless at wireless.org.au [mailto:owner-
> melbwireless at wireless.org.au] On Behalf Of Andrew Griffiths
> Sent: Tuesday, 12 November 2002 4:36 PM
> To: melbwireless at wireless.org.au
> Subject: Re: [MLB-WIRELESS] A letter I got....
> 
> Steven Haigh wrote:
> > Got a letter today from the Attorney-General's Department....
> 
> Uh oh... How about we invite whomever onto this list for the duration
of
> this discussion?
> 
> >
> > it follows:
> >
> > --- Begin Letter ---
> > Dear Mr Haigh
> >
> >     WIRELESS BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS PROVIDERS
> > OBLIGATIONS UNDER SECTION 313 OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT 1997
> >
> > I understand Melbourne Wireless is operating or intending to operate
a
> > wireless broadband network to facilitate access by customers to the
> > Internet and/or the PSTN.
> 
> Ouch. Possibly a Internet connection may not be in our interests
(though
>   I suspect places like the various mirrors wouldn't joining our
network
> but not routing for us..).
> 
>  > I am writing to all wireless broadband access
> > providers to inform them of their obligations under section 313 of
the
> > /Telecommunications Act 1997/.
> >
> > Under the Act, carriers and carriage service providers must do their
> > best to prevent telecommunications networks and facilities from
being
> > used to commit offences.
> 
> Does this mean we have to monitor everything? (Censorship). If so, how
> about when people see material they do not agree with and so on.
> 
> What about cryptography?
> 
> > They must also give the authorities such help
> > as is reasonably necessary for the purposes of enforcing the
criminal
> > law and laws imposing pecuniary penalties; protecting the public
> > revenus;
> 
> Myself, so long as it is of a criminal nature (such as some person
going
> around breaking into computers and using our network for a launch pad)
> and not something commerical related (like pirating), I don't mind so
> much.
> 
> > and safeguarding national security.
> 
> "They" seem to through this one around; possibly because its hard to
> refute. However, at what line is freedom and safety drawn?
> 
>  > This may help include
> > provision of interception services, including services in executing
an
> > interception warrant under the /Telecommunications (Interception)
Act
> 1979/.
> 
> Mmmmkay.. I rememeber a draft of a Law/something mentioning the
various
> security people would like all the (cryptographic) keys used.
> 
> So lets say I had an account on some box, and some .gov agency wanted
to
> break into this box (assuming they have whatever is needed to say they
> can) does this mean, for example, I might have to hand over SSH keys
or
> whatever?
> 
> And if SSH, why not say, GPG keys?
> 
> And if you don't comply (for the public's safety of course) why not
jail
>   time?
> 
> If I can find a link to what they where proposing a while ago, you'll
> find I'm not joking.
> 
> 
> >
> > An Overview of these obligations, including a link to the manual
> > 'Telecommunications and Law Enforcement', is available at the
Australian
> > Communications Authority website:
> >
> > http://www.aca.gov.au/licence/public_interestobligations.htm
> 
> erm. Mozilla returns
> 
> Not Found
> The requested URL /licence/public_interestobligations.htm was not
found
> on this server.
> 
> >
> > An officer from my office, the Australian Security Intelligence
> > Organisation or a law enforcement agency may have already made
contact
> > with you to discuss details of the services offered by your company
> 
> Company? AFAIK, we are not a commerical entity. Does anyone know if
this
> changes anything wrt .gov agencys?
> 
> > and the assistance that may be requested. If not, you should expect
> contact
> > to be made in the near future. Specific issues to be discussed will
> include:
> >
> > a.    architecture/technical details of the service being offered,
the
> > customer base and distribution, and roll out plans;
> 
> WGPrivacy/Security?
> 
> >
> > b.    the nature of subscriber and historical traffic
> 
> Historical data? I guess they will be giving us data storage stuff as
> well.
> 
>  > data that might be
> > requested, the information that might be provided as part of the
> > request, and the format in which the information can be provided;
> >
> > c.    the telecommunications interception warrant process;
> >
> 
> And people will have to keep secrets about this and thusly will create
> distrust in our/the community.
> 
> > d.    identifiers for each service;
> 
> Service types?
> 
> >
> > e.    technical implementation facilities, and interception product
> > delivery arrangements;
> 
> interception products? Someone want to find out
> 
> >
> > f.    service level agreements; and
> 
> Hrm. Seriously, is anyone going to gaurentee that they will offer X
> bandwidth over a network with no centeralised control? (Even possibly,
> once someone has decided they want in, we can't keep them off it).
> 
> >
> > g.    physical security arrangements and security clearance
requirements
> > for the handling of classified information.
> 
> Does this mean people running an access point / backbone whatever have
> an agreement with melb-wireless, or does the various .gov agencies
make
> there own arrangements with said person?
> 
> >
> > I would appreciate your advice of the most appropriate point of
contact
> > within your organisation. If you have any queries, please do not
> > hesitate to contact myself or <name withheld>, (xx) xxxx.xxxx or
email
> > her at: xxx at xx.xxx.xx <mailto:xxx at xx.xxx.xx>
> >
> > Yours sincerely
> >
> >
> > Joan Sheedy
> > A/g Agency Coordinator.
> >
> > --- End Letter ---
> >
> >
> > Any comments on this? I'm not sure if I like what it's implying.....
> 
> Myself included... I can see this as being problematic and headache
> causing. Why do I get the feeling that its time to leave .au? (Someone
> read to me a quote when talking about various things happening, "The
> Jews who could see what was happening left Germany as quickly as
> possible" or something like that..)
> 
> >
> > Signed,
> > Steven Haigh
> > http://wireless.org.au
> > (Visit https://wireless.org.au to install our Root Certificate.)
> 
> 
> This can possibly be seen as overreacting, but when I read in the
paper
> that "People shouldn't question the government over how its acting"
and
> so on, it starts to really worry me.
> 
> For example, the recent article in the Herald Sun about "kids going to
> libraries to look at pr0n", and people saying we should install
filters.
> (Which
>    1) Don't work (Moving targets)
> 	The only solution is to white list sites? Now, would this be
> possible
> with all the content on the 'net?
>    2) Are not open (I've read many reports saying that various
filtered
> places do not agree with the creaters political beliefs and thereforce
> are blocked, amongst other things)
>    3) Do not have an easy recourse of removing said blocked sites.
>    4) And people sign agreements saying they won't bring up
> "objectionable material" at the library.
> )
> 
> Well, lets get this discussion rolling..
> 
> Andrew Griffiths.
> 
> 
> 
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