Well, it’s that time again: as of this week, we are once again presented with a brand new independent report advising the government to legislate for state access to encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram.
The justification, as always, is rooted in the most extreme and emotionally-compelling scenarios: tackling terrorism, thwarting cartels, and dismantling violent threats to the state itself. And, unsurprisingly, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan has already made his enthusiasm for these sweeping powers abundantly clear in the months prior to this report’s publication.