‘New-fangled’ internet the challenge for ASIO

The spread of a strange new technology — the internet — led to ASIO being given authority to remotely hack into computers.

The spread of a strange new technology — the internet — prompted the Howard government to give ASIO the authority to remotely hack into computer systems to retrieve the growing body of sensitive information held online.

Computer access powers, an extension of search warrants, the use of tracking devices and the authority to recruit agents to collect foreign intelligence in Australia were all powers given to our spies in an era blessedly free of the mass-casualty terrorism and rampant foreign interference absorbing security services now.

Cabinet documents from 1998-99 show ASIO grappling with what in retrospect seems the mildest of ­security challenges: how to make safe the forthcoming Sydney Olympics.

A cabinet minute from January 1998 shows the Howard government attempting to bring ASIO up to speed with changing technology, in this instance the rapid networking of Australian life.

While ASIO had the power to access data held on computers as it was transmitted over a telco network, in those days dial-up modems, the agency had no power to conduct remote hacks.

“The current search warrant provisions were prepared before reliance on computers to store information became as widespread as at present,” the document reads.

“There is no provision for ASIO to access computers from both a remote location and from the site, and to (access) information held in electric form.”

Nor was there provision for ASIO to use tracking devices to follow goods or people, to search items moved by private couriers or to allow its officers to collect intelligence from foreign officials.

ASIO was given new powers to search the bags of incoming visitors and to brief out sensitive intelligence to state and territory police services. It was also allowed to use “agent” to collect foreign intelligence, normally the remit of ASIS in Australia.