Intelligence: A Risk too Far, or ‘Dignity and Justice for All of Us?’

Abstract

This study takes the form of a critical discussion that examines the growth of surveillance and intrusion into the privacy of Australian citizens for the ostensible purpose of gathering intelligence and maintaining security. It investigates the history of the growth of surveillance during the last decade and comments on the intrusion on privacy by public sector organisations, but mainly focuses on the growth in data harvesting carried out by private sector or quasi-governmental outsourced organisations while noting the lack of accountability of such agencies. It examined the level of intrusion, the possible uses of the data, along with outcomes and issues of incursion into citizens’ privacy. The study analysed selected cases were data had been gathered by some (but not all) modern methods of gathering intelligence, such as closed circuit television (CCTV); travel and transport; private communications, social media; DNA sampling and databases. It quantified the effects of intelligence gathering, identifying and analysing cases where organisations had exceeded their powers in obtaining data and recommended several means of ensuring proper accountability and the implications for government policy.