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Isn't this exactly how you would "legally" implement a digital dictatorship? You effectively give one person the ability to rule by secret decree, with arbitra

Isn't this exactly how you would "legally" implement a digital dictatorship? You effectively give one person the ability to rule by secret decree, with arbitrary (digital) power that doesn't require a warrant, and allows them to target businesses and their customers without any evidence or even suspicion of guilt. Would the government have sovereign immunity if a business was harmed by bugs introduced by their malware? As you say, the government could simply demand a company solve the halting problem, and fine them into bankruptcy for not complying. Without an ability to know what is in the code, there is no way to determine if it is proportionate (or even intended) for achieving a lawful aim, and you presumably couldn't launch a judicial review of the executive decision without having to use some sort of secret court. Given that the operation is managed by the military, though, I imagine the government would just say that all the necessary evidence is classified. Having arbitrary code execution on all services and devices in the country, and preventing any mention of the changes made, gives a digital dictator the ability to plant any evidence they want, exfiltrate any kompromat they want, and make any financial transactions they want against any political target with no paper trail or accountability. Don't be surprised if Australia then makes a further push for electronic voting systems: https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BriefingBook45p/ElectronicVoting https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Depart...

techdragon 5y ago
Yes. And with the Minister for Home affairs basically only kept in line by loyalty to the Prime Minister, and having an extremely short list of “checks” to balance this power (basically all of which are the various people, committees and groups that have the right to immediately dismiss the minister) it genuinely scares me that this could pass. The coalition have already demonstrated that the aren’t above trying to politically profit from what should have just been a regular apolitical national security investigation. Instead they spin the fact the one person found was a Labour MP as proof the opposition are somehow weak and corruptible on matters of national security. Then when the head of the depart doing the investigation makes an extremely rare rebuke, reminding everyone that such investigations are apolitical and do not reflect any differences between political parties, we get senior ministers outright disagreeing ( “respectfully” ) with the head of ASIO and trying to reaffirm that they are somehow different. These are not the actions of people deserving of trust with power this enormous. I’m not sure I’d trust a genuine could throw thunderbolts and smite me deity with this kind of power, but I definitely don’t trust the current assholes in power and I doubt I’ll trust the next ones or the ones after that… This might actually be my breaking point, I may have to either get into politics and run for office despite knowing I’m unlikely to succeed, or just have all the difficult conversations with friends and relatives and just fucking leave the country before they start mandating the root kits be installed by default.
weq 5y ago
Australia is ruled by Capitalists, so its simply how they reinforce there own monopoly. Aussies have no garentees to anything but as long as the general public allow themselves to be placated by reno shows, sports, and relgious blinkering, nothing will change. As long as you dig up, grow, export, drill, suck, and offer a politican a job in cushy position for retirement, your set. For everyone else its to the dogs.
- helloworld11 5y ago
  >Australia is ruled by capitalists I'm sorry but the very phrase is nonsense and overly simplistic. Australia is ruled by politicians and those who collude with them, just like nearly anywhere else to one degree or another. Many countries are ruled by definitely non-capitalist leaders and do the exact same things, just as do countries with lots of influence from capitalist leaders (The U.S. for example). Capitalism doesn't automatically make a country authoritarian nor does it specifically provoke crap like this from the Australian government. If anything, it helps fight it to some extent in some cases (while also often helping it). With non-capitalist systems there isn't even the possibility of resources spreading where they could fight the state's overreach too.

techdragon 5y ago

Yes. And with the Minister for Home affairs basically only kept in line by loyalty to the Prime Minister, and having an extremely short list of “checks” to balance this power (basically all of which are the various people, committees and groups that have the right to immediately dismiss the minister) it genuinely scares me that this could pass. The coalition have already demonstrated that the aren’t above trying to politically profit from what should have just been a regular apolitical national security investigation. Instead they spin the fact the one person found was a Labour MP as proof the opposition are somehow weak and corruptible on matters of national security. Then when the head of the depart doing the investigation makes an extremely rare rebuke, reminding everyone that such investigations are apolitical and do not reflect any differences between political parties, we get senior ministers outright disagreeing ( “respectfully” ) with the head of ASIO and trying to reaffirm that they are somehow different. These are not the actions of people deserving of trust with power this enormous. I’m not sure I’d trust a genuine could throw thunderbolts and smite me deity with this kind of power, but I definitely don’t trust the current assholes in power and I doubt I’ll trust the next ones or the ones after that… This might actually be my breaking point, I may have to either get into politics and run for office despite knowing I’m unlikely to succeed, or just have all the difficult conversations with friends and relatives and just fucking leave the country before they start mandating the root kits be installed by default.

weq 5y ago

Australia is ruled by Capitalists, so its simply how they reinforce there own monopoly. Aussies have no garentees to anything but as long as the general public allow themselves to be placated by reno shows, sports, and relgious blinkering, nothing will change. As long as you dig up, grow, export, drill, suck, and offer a politican a job in cushy position for retirement, your set. For everyone else its to the dogs.

helloworld11 5y ago
>Australia is ruled by capitalists I'm sorry but the very phrase is nonsense and overly simplistic. Australia is ruled by politicians and those who collude with them, just like nearly anywhere else to one degree or another. Many countries are ruled by definitely non-capitalist leaders and do the exact same things, just as do countries with lots of influence from capitalist leaders (The U.S. for example). Capitalism doesn't automatically make a country authoritarian nor does it specifically provoke crap like this from the Australian government. If anything, it helps fight it to some extent in some cases (while also often helping it). With non-capitalist systems there isn't even the possibility of resources spreading where they could fight the state's overreach too.