> sounds like asking a phone company to tap a phone, which is pretty well established? That is exactly what they are asking for. In fact, the legalisation ena

> sounds like asking a phone company to tap a phone, which is pretty well established? That is exactly what they are asking for. In fact, the legalisation enabling them to gather the data and under what conditions (the authorisation required, like a court order) isn't being changed. This new piece of legislation just extends who they can force to collect it form them. It use to be the telco's, which was originally just phone taps but then extended to internet data. They are now extending that to software companies. (Also cloud providers like SpiderOak and "secure email" companies.) In a few words this extension allows them to order a software company to (with suitable compensation of course): 1. Develop / assist in developing an undetectable tap / bug for them, and 2. Surreptitiously install it for them via an over the air update. This extends their reach from phone calls to any device that auto-installed software updates / patches. Whether you consider the ability to install a "phone tap" into your phone, tv, car, router, wifi camera, pc, robot vacuum, modem, that can read all the data on there, enable the microphone and camera, monitor the GPS and other sensors, read keystrokes, fingerprints and other authentication data to be roughly as intrusive as someone monitoring your phone calls is I guess a mater of taste.