Digital ID Bill Sparks ‘Mass Surveillance’ Concerns in Australia

Published on February 8, 2024

Digital Rights Watch is recommending that the Australian government stop law enforcement agencies from accessing data under the proposed Digital ID legislation. In a submission to the Senate inquiry into the Digital ID Bill 2023, the group raised concerns that digital ID could be used for mass surveillance and law enforcement. Australian federal finance minister, Senator Katy Gallagher, put forward the national digital ID legislation to the Senate on the final sitting day of Parliament of 2023. The bill has been referred to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee. In a submission (pdf) dated Jan. 18, Digital Rights Watch, a non-profit advocacy group, said the digital ID system must never be repurposed for surveillance or law enforcement purposes....

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