SRY if already posted

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2018-12-06-australia-passes-encryption-law-targeting-whatsapp-signal/

Australia’s parliament passed some of the world’s toughest anti-encryption legislation Thursday, installing a bill that seeks to force Facebook Inc. and other tech giants to help decode messages used in terrorism and organized crime.

Under new powers to be given to police and intelligence agencies, companies may be required to help decrypt communications on platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal, and even insert code to help capture data.

The bill had support from both major parties and, late on Thursday, the opposition Labor party said it was withdrawing amendments it had previously demanded. That allowed the upper house to vote in support of the legislation, meaning it becomes law.

The new law thrusts Australia to the center of a global battle between tech companies and governments over privacy and security. In 2016, the U.K. gave authorities sweeping powers to hack, intercept and retain the communications of all British citizens, while China’s Cyber Security Law requires internet operators to cooperate with criminal and national security investigations.