But wait a minute - didn't risky.biz' Patrick Gray originally report that the AFP clarified that the "Metadata retention" amounts to merely formalizing the retention of DHCP logs?
I mean, there's heaps of shitty things to complain about here (Eg. illegal intelligence activities could send an ASIO officer to gaol for 2 years but a journalist reporting such a thing could go to gaol for 10 years). However I can totally get why authorities should be able to match up an IP address + datetime = ISP user.
There are many, many different takes on what is wanted.
The Government's Communications Minister, the Attorney-General's Department, the Attorney-General himself and the police/spies have all said different things on what will be required.
The ISP iiNet has also said that an internal document it received from the AG's Department a year or so back has very, very different requirements on what should be kept than what anyone is saying publicly.
Also, I see why authorities want it, but I don't think they should have it. As mentioned, there is already more than enough ways to get the information on targets if they want it.
What they are doing is a dragnet style surveillance approach in a democratic country.
I was under the impression they would continue to use the existing channels of obtaining DHCP logs from ISPs as before (i.e. subpoenas), but the changes were aimed at some ISPs not retaining more than eg. last 7 days logs, or last 30 days/billing period, etc.
I mean, there's heaps of shitty things to complain about here (Eg. illegal intelligence activities could send an ASIO officer to gaol for 2 years but a journalist reporting such a thing could go to gaol for 10 years). However I can totally get why authorities should be able to match up an IP address + datetime = ISP user.