Controversial Cybercrime Bill Introduced In Australia

An anonymous reader writes "The Australian government instructed a committee to investigate required changes to cybercrime legislation. Having received the report, the government decide to ignore it and give the federal police almost everything it wants on a plate. From the article: 'The Australian Greens have questioned the decision of the Government and Opposition to pass the Cybercrime Bill unchanged through the House of Representatives despite recommendations by their own members of parliament to fix serious flaws. Greens communications spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said the Cyber Safety Committee had tabled a highly critical unanimous report on the bill, proposing a series of amendments and requests for clarification which were not addressed in the House.'"

Re:Australia - more backwards than the US

[janrinok]

Ah, the 3 strikes law.... I am currently living in France (and have for quite a few years now) and have not heard of anyone being prosecuted under that law (HADOPI), nor am I aware of anyone having had their internet connection withdrawn. I'm sure it must have happened, but it is not the doom and gloom that others seem to think that it is. I do know lots of people who regularly download films, music and pornography but none have experienced any trouble nor do they show the slightest concern for that particular law. It seems to me that the HADOPI law has put more fear into people who don't live here than it has in those who do...

You can check out but you can never leave...

[Anonymous Coward]

We've been getting a lot of news here in Canada about American's living in Canada but never renounced their citizenship and who are now facing some pretty draconian tax issues.

I met one former American who spent $5000 to renounce and has 6 more years ( out of ten) where he can't spend more than 30 days a year in the U.S.. No wonder most never bother to renounce.

The U.S. is forcing Canadian banks ( through threats to specially tax their American subsidiaries ) to report on Americans. So just saying to hell with it is no longer an option. Oh, and all those years of failing to file a separate form reporting your non-U.S. account - big penalty - potentially huge penalty.. plus interest... yikes.

The funny part... America was founded by people who voted with their feet.

Are you really free if you can't actually leave.. not that you would ever want to... but isn't the threat of leaving part of keeping things honest even if you don't ?

another treat... the IRS pays tax snitches... so good luck getting help with tax issues after the fact - you've got a bounty on your head! Are "they" watching to see who downloads the voluntary disclosure forms from the IRS? Thanks to the internet you may not even be able to help yourself.

It's a slippery slope to mental illness. Can't you tell I've been dealing with some tax issues lately...