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Big Brother Is Hacking You

As we in America consider new laws regulating the Internet, we ought to consider the example of our friends "down under." Legislation recently enacted by the Australian Parliament gives the government power to legally hack into private computer systems. As long as the snoops have reasonable cause to believe it's relevant to a "security matter," they have broad latitude to examine--and even to alter--the content of private websites. Critics are calling the new law "Orwellian," though it remains to be seen how it will work in practice. Read the background on this alarming story in Wired News. Then get on the blower with your elected officials and make sure we don't repeat the mistake on our own shores.

Thu, 09 Dec 1999 07:39:23 -0800