Distinction in travel journalism
Is independent travel journalism important to you?
Click here to keep it independent

9 Mar, 2015

Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales slams federal government data retention laws

Mr Wales said he understood the need for data retention schemes in fighting crime. But he added law enforcement bodies should be forced to get warrants when seeking people’s information.

“With proper judicial oversight, probable cause, warrants, judges and not just police overseeing it, the ability to get access to information is perfectly valid,” he said. “Warrantless systems really bother me because I think there’s a real danger of them being abused and misused against people who haven’t committed a crime.

“In Russia the extent to which the government has access to everybody’s phone records means that opposition leaders have all kinds of private information unfairly revealed to savage their chances [and] we shouldn’t be naïve and assume that can’t happen in our countries as well.”

Read the rest: Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales slams federal government data retention laws – Sydney Morning Herald.